The effects of nondigestible fermentable carbohydrates on adults with overweight or obesity: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Context: Nondigestible fermentable carbohydrates (NDFCs) can be fermented by microbiota, thereby yielding metabolites that have a beneficial role in the prevention and treatment of obesity and its complications. However, to our knowledge, no meta-analysis has been conducted to evaluate the effects of NDFCs on obesity.

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to summarize existing evidence on the effects of numerous NDFCs on adiposity and cardiovascular risk factors in adults with overweight or obesity with ≥2 weeks of follow-up.

Data sources: The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL.

Data extraction: Seventy-seven RCTs with 4535 participants were identified for meta-analysis from the 3 databases.

Data analysis: The findings suggest that increased intake of NDFCs is significantly effective in reducing body mass index by 0.280 kg/m2, weight by 0.501 kg, hip circumference by 0.554 cm, waist circumference by 0.649 cm, systolic blood pressure by 1.725 mmHg, total cholesterol by 0.36 mmol/L, and low-density lipoprotein by 0.385 mmol/L, with evidence of moderate-to-high quality.

Conclusion: Convincing evidence from meta-analyses of RCTs indicates that increased NDFC intake improves adiposity, blood lipid levels, and systolic blood pressure in people with overweight and obesity.

Keywords: cardiovascular risk factors; meta-analysis; metabolic disease; nondigestible fermentable carbohydrates; obesity; overweight; weight.