Effects of synbiotic food consumption on serum minerals, liver enzymes, and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes: A double-blind randomized cross-over controlled clinical trial

• Main Authors: Zatollah Asemi, Mohammad Hossein Aarabi, Mohammad Hajijafari, Sabihe-Alsadat Alizadeh, Reza Razzaghi, Majid Mazoochi, Ahmad Esmaillzadeh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Preventive Medicine
• Subjects: Blood pressure; liver enzymes; serum minerals; synbiotic; type 2 diabetes
• Online Access: http://www.ijpvmjournal.net/article.asp?issn=2008-7802;year=2017;volume=8;issue=1;spage=43;epage=43;aulast=

Background: This research was to examine the effects of synbiotic intake on minerals, liver enzymes, and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: This randomized, cross-over clinical trial was performed among 62 diabetic patients. Persons were randomly assigned to intake either a synbiotic (n = 62) or a control food (n = 62) for 6 weeks. A 3-week washout period was applied following which persons were crossed over to the alternate intervention arm for an additional 6 weeks. The synbiotic was consisted of Lactobacillus sporogenes (1 × 107 CFU), 0.04 g inulin (HPX) as prebiotic. Persons were asked to consume the synbiotic and control foods 27 g a day. Blood pressure was measured, and blood samples were taken at baseline and after 6-week intervention to assess calcium, magnesium, iron, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin. Results: The consumption of a synbiotic food, compared to the control food, resulted in a significant rise of calcium (0.66 vs. −0.14 mg/dL,P= 0.03) and iron (5.06 vs. −9.98 mg/dL,P= 0.03). The decrease of total bilirubin (0.08 vs. −0.04 mg/dL;P = 0.009) was also seen in the synbiotic group compared with the control group. Conclusions: Overall, synbiotic in T2D patients had beneficial effects on calcium, iron, and total bilirubin concentrations.