Purpose To determine the efficacy of the dietary fiber guar gum as a therapeutic option for reducing body weight by conducting a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Methods Literature searches were performed on the electronic detabases Medline, Embase, Biosis, AMED, and the Cochrane Library. Manufacturers of commercial guar gum preparations and experts on the subject were contacted to provide any published of unpublished trials. For inclusion trials had to state they were randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled, use guar gum mono-preparations and report body weight as an endpoint. No language restrictions were imposed. Two reviewers independently extracted data in a standardized manner according to pre-defined criteria and evaluated methodological quality using the scoring system developed by Jadad. Discrepancies were settled through discussion.
Results Thirty-four trials were identified and twenty could be included. Eleven trials provided data that were suitable for statistical pooling. The meta-analysis indicated a non-significant difference in patients receiving guar gum compared with patients receiving placebo (weighted mean difference: -0.04㎏, 95% confidence interval: -2.2 to 2.1) Analysis of six trials with similar methodological features corroborates these findings (weighted men difference: -0.3㎏, 95% conifdence interval: -4.0 to 3.5). Adverse events most frequently reported were abdominal pain. flatulence. diarrhea and cramps. Overall, 11 patients (3%) dropped out due to adverse events.
Conclusionsl This meta-analysis suggests that guar gum is not efficacious for reducing body weight. Considering the adverse events associated with its use the risks of taking guar gum outweigh its benefits for this indication. Therefore guar gum cannot be recommended as a treatment for lowering body weight.
|