The effect of psyllium on fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, HOMA IR, and insulin control: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

There is equivocal evidence that psyllium can prevent or attenuate increases in fasting blood sugar. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis sought to investigate the influence of psyllium on hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, and Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA IR). We searched PubMed, ISI Web of Science (WOS), and Scopus for eligible publications, up to 15 July 2022, including randomized controlled trials (RCT) assessing the effect of psyllium on HbA1c, FBS, insulin, and HOMA IR levels in adults. Using a random effects model, we report the weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). In this article, 19 RCT studies, consisting of 962 participants, were included. Psyllium significantly decreased FBS, HbA1c, and HOMA IR levels, but not insulin levels, as compared to placebo (FBS: WMD): -6.89; 95% CI: -10.62, -3.16; p < .001), HbA1c: (WMD: -0.75; 95% CI: -1.21, -0.29; p < .001), HOMA IR: (WMD: -1.17; 95% CI: -2.11, -0.23; p < .05), and insulin: (WMD: -2.08; 95% CI: -4.21, -0.035; p > .05)). Subgroup analyses illustrated differences in the effects of psyllium on FBS: dosages less than and more than 10 g/d showed significant differences (p value < 0.05). However, it was not significant in intervention durations less than 50 days (p value > 0.05). For HbA1c: psyllium consumption less than 10 g/d (p value > 0.05) was non-significant. For HOMA IR and insulin: no significant changes were noted with psyllium consumption less than vs. more than 10 g/d. In conclusion, we found that psyllium could significantly decrease FBS, HbA1c, and HOMA IR levels, but not insulin levels, as compared to placebo.