Acacia(sen) SUPERGUM™ (Gum arabic): An evaluation of potential health benefits in human subjects

This study evaluated the cardiovascular and renal effects of dietary fibre supplementation with Acacia(sen) SUPERGUM (TM) (gum arabic) in normal individuals and a group of diabetic nephropaths. The normal diet was supplemented with 25 g of SUPERGUM (TM) daily for a period of 8-12 weeks. For the whole cohort dietary supplementation with SUPERGUM (TM) resulted in a fall in mean systolic blood pressure [SBP] (138.4 +/- 18.9 mmHg to 132.83 +/- 15.9 mmHg p = 0.01). Of note was a significant fail in SBP seen in normal individuals who neither had hypertension nor diabetes (129.1 +/- 8.3 mmHg vs 123.6 +/- 11.5 mmHg, n = 10 p = 0.02). Parameters of arterial stiffness were examined in patients with diabetic nephropathy and a fall in MAR In this subgroup there was a significant fall in both central systolic and diastolic blood pressures, with no alterations in AI, AI @75 or PWV. This suggests that the beneficial effects of SUPERGUM (TM) on blood pressure are not the result of alterations in arterial stiffness. There were no effects of SUPERGUM (TM) on renal function and haemodynamics in patients with diabetic nephropathy. In contrast a reversible change in GFR (113.0 ml min vs 99.4 ml/min, p = 0.02) and ERPF (489.7 ml/min vs 463.0 ml/min, p = 0.04) was shown in the population of healthy volunteers. The key finding of this study is the a significant beneficial effect of dietary supplementation with SUPERGUM (TM) on blood pressure which is seen in both a patient group with diabetes and mild renal involvement as well as in a normal healthy normotensive cohort. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.