According to the World Health Organization, in 2022, 2.5 billion adults (18 years and older) were overweight. This corresponds to 43% of adults aged 18 years and over (43% of men and 44% of women) who were overweight; an increase from 1990, when 25% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight. And in 2022, almost 400 million children and adolescents were overweight.¹

Weight and GLP-1

Healthy weight loss involves a lifestyle with healthy eating patterns, regular physical activity and stress management.² But with consumers still struggling with weight, there has been a growing interest in anti-obesity medication, and GLP-1 analogs in particular.

But what exactly is GLP-1? GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and may suppress appetite, promoting satiety (feeling full). After eating a meal, GLP-1 works by binding to receptors which send messages to the body to increase the amount of insulin released. Insulin tells the body’s cells to take in blood glucose, decreasing glucose levels in the blood. In addition to its role in glucose usage, GLP-1 also acts as a satiety hormone by delaying hunger.

Fibersol® and Weight Management

Fibersol®, a digestion-resistant soluble dietary fiber backed by over 30 years of extensive clinical research, may support satiety and increase GLP-1 as part of a normal physiological response in healthy individuals when 10g of Fibersol® is taken with a meal.

Research has shown that Fibersol® may delay hunger and may increase satiety perception and stimulate appetite-regulating hormones in humans when ingested with a meal.³ A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of two doses of Fibersol® (5, 10g) with healthy subjects (9 men and 10 women) demonstrated that taking 10g of Fibersol® with a meal stimulated production of satiety hormones GLP-1 and peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) and affected perceptions of hunger and appetite. 

Source for Chart: Ye, Z., Arumugam, V., Haugabrooks, E., Williamson, P., and Hendrich, S. 2015. “Soluble dietary fiber (Fibersol®-2) decreased hunger and increased satiety hormones in humans when ingested with a meal,” Nutrition Research. 35: 393-400.

In addition to the significant increase in the two appetite-regulating hormones (GLP-1 and PYY), this study also showed that ingestion of 10g of Fibersol® resulted in greater satisfaction and lower prospective consumption after a meal, suggesting decreased hunger and prolonged satiety.

This was also supported by the results in an additional study that demonstrated prolonged satiety was experienced by the subjects consuming 10g of Fibersol® compared with participants ingesting 0 and 5g of Fibersol®.⁴

Fibersol® and Blood Sugar

In addition to supporting satiety and increasing naturally occurring GLP-1 when supplemented with meals, Fibersol® can support metabolic health, as studies have shown that Fibersol® reduces blood glucose and insulin response following a meal in healthy adults.⁵

Adding to Wellness

Adding to the beneficial effects on GLP-1, blood sugar and satiety, Fibersol® provides other positive health impacts, which enhance the nutritional appeal of this soluble dietary fiber.

Triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood. High levels of triglycerides can increase unwanted cardiovascular risk. Fibersol® has been shown to help attenuate the rise in blood triglycerides, offering consumers potential wellness benefits.

Slowly fermented. Fibersol® is resistant to digestion, so when ingested, the majority stays intact, passing to the large intestine where it is slowly fermented by the intestinal microflora. Fermentation of Fibersol® in the gut results in metabolite synthesis such as short chain fatty acids, which are important to maintaining a healthy gut environment.

Prebiotic and digestive tolerance. Fibersol® is a prebiotic fiber that addresses consumers’ interest in digestive health. A prebiotic fiber promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria within the gut. At 3.75g per serving, Fibersol® may help nourish the intestinal flora and maintain a healthy intestinal tract environment (for a total of 15g per day over 3 weeks).^6,7 

Not only does Fibersol® support both digestion and growth of gut-friendly flora, it is also a well-tolerated prebiotic fiber. Fibersol® is a resistant maltodextrin that is not associated with severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Fibersol® is well tolerated, at up to 68g/day.⁸ 

In consumers’ battle with weight management, Fibersol® offers a well-tolerated dietary option to not only potentially promote satiety hormones GLP-1 and PYY, but also help reduce blood sugar levels, support healthy blood triglyceride levels and support digestive health, based on high-quality clinical studies.

Sources

¹World Health Organization (2024) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

²U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-weight-growth/losing-weight/index.html#:~:text=A%20lifestyle%20with%20good%20nutrition%2C%20regular%20physical%20activity%2C,weight%20off%20than%20people%20who%20lose%20weight%20quickly

³Ye, Z., Arumugam, V., Haugabrooks, E., Williamson, P., and Hendrich, S. 2015. “Soluble

dietary fiber (Fibersol®-2) decreased hunger and increased satiety hormones in humans when ingested with a meal,” Nutrition Research. 35: 393-400.

⁴Fernandez-Raudales, D. (2018) J FNS. 9(6):751-62.

⁵Yuasa, M. et al. (2004). Jpn Innov Food Ingred Res 7:83-93.

⁶Burns, A.M., Solch, R.J., Dennis-Wall, J.C., Ukhanova, M., Nieves Jr., C., Mai, V., Christman, M.C., Gordon, D.T., Langkamp-Henken, B. 2018. “In healthy adults, resistant maltodextrin produces a greater change in fecal bifidobacteria counts and increases stool wet weight: a double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover study,” Nutrition Research. 60: 33-42.

⁷Mai, V., Burns, A.M., Solch, R.J., Dennis-Wall, J.C., Ukhanova, M., Langkamp-Henken, B.

2022. “Resistant maltodextrin consumption in a double-blind, randomized, crossover

clinical trial induces specific changes in potentially beneficial gut bacteria,” Nutrients.

14(11): 2192.

⁸Kishimoto, Y., Kanahori, S., Sakano, K., and Ebihara, S. 2013. “The maximum single dose of resistant maltodextrin that does not cause diarrhea in humans.” J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 59(4): 352-7.