The effect of a fiber rich dietary product used for the dietary treatment of adult obese women on some biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurements

Abstract

This study was performed to search the effect of a fiber rich dietary product on anthropometric measurements and some biochemical parameters of obese adult women. A total of 25 adult women (12 were in study and 13 were in control group, all randomly selected) volunteered in this study. At the beginning of the study, height, weight, waist and hip circumferences of all women were measured, and blood samples were collected for fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, triglycerides (TG),total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C levels. Patients having endocrine and metabolic disturbances and who need to use anti-obesity medications were not enrolled. A low calorie weight losing diet consisting of 50-55% carbohydrate, 15-20% protein and <30% fat was given to all cases, but women in the study group were given a specific dietary product rich in apple and wheat fiber as an exchange of one slice of bread every day. Patients were checked monthly with respect to their weight loss and diet adhesion during the three months of treatment period. Although biochemical parameters did not show any significant differences between the two groups at the beginning of the study, FBG and insulin levels were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group at the end of the treatment period. There were also significant decreases in insulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol and VLDL-C levels in the study group after 3 months of treatment, but not in the control group. Women in both groups lost weight, and their waist and hip circumferences decreased significantly. This concludes that the fiber rich, fat, sugar and salt free dietary product could be a useful dietary treatment not only in obesity, but also in dislipidemia and insulin resistant states.