Acacia gum, body fat and blood pressure in type 2 diabetes
What it found
In 91 people with type 2 diabetes, taking 30 g of acacia gum daily for 3 months reduced BMI, visceral adiposity index and systolic blood pressure.
The authors say it may help prevent weight gain and improve fat tissue function.
What they found
Studies in people
Weight and BMI
In the acacia gum group, weight fell by 2% and BMI fell by 2% from the start. There were no significant changes in waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio.
Visceral fat measures
Visceral adiposity index dropped by 23.7% and body adiposity index by 3.9% in the acacia gum group. Lipid accumulation product fell by 14.4%, but deep abdominal adipose tissue did not change significantly.
Blood pressure
Systolic blood pressure fell by 7.6% in the acacia gum group and by 2.7% in the placebo group. Diastolic blood pressure did not change significantly in either group.
Blood fats
HDL (good cholesterol) rose by 20% in the acacia gum group, with no significant change in the placebo group. Triglycerides did not change significantly in either group.
What the authors conclude
“Gum Arabic consumption at a dose of 30 g/d for 3 months may play an effective role in preventing weight gain and modulating adipose tissue dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients, although no effect has been shown in waist-to-hip ratio.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that acacia gum at 30 g per day for 3 months was effective in weight reduction and modulating adipose tissue dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients.
- They say this was reflected by an increase in HDL and a decrease in triglyceride, which are major components in assessing cardiovascular risk factors in diabetic patients.
- They suggest that acacia gum may play an effective role in preventing weight gain and modulating adipose tissue dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients, although no effect was shown in waist-to-hip ratio.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see whether acacia gum, a fibre, could improve body fat measures and blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes, as these are indicators of heart and blood vessel risk.
They recruited 91 people with type 2 diabetes (73 women, 18 men, average age about 50) and randomly assigned them to take either 30 g of acacia gum or 5 g of a placebo (pectin) daily for 3 months. Body measurements, blood pressure and blood fats were measured at the start and end.
What it can’t tell you
- The trial lasted only 3 months, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
- It cannot show whether these changes lead to fewer heart attacks or strokes.
- The study was in people with type 2 diabetes, so the results may not apply to other groups.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: The trial is in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and guidelines from the Sudanese State of Khartoum Ministry of Health Ethical Committee. Approval was obtained by local research ethics committee ‘Institutional Review Board at University of Medical Science and Technology (UMST); SUM 116 -IRB number: 00008867’ .The study was carried out and informed written consent was obtained from all patients before their enrolment. CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not applicable. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that there are no competing interests regarding the publication of this paper. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
- Authors work at
- University of Medical Sciences & Technology, Sudan; University of Limerick, Ireland; Human Biology & Research Laboratory Manager, Bahrain
The paper
- Title
- Effect of Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) supplementation on visceral adiposity index (VAI) and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as indicators of cardiovascular disease (CVD): a randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Babiker R, Elmusharaf K, Keogh MB, Saeed AM (2018). Effect of Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) supplementation on visceral adiposity index (VAI) and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as indicators of cardiovascular disease (CVD): a randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lipids in health and disease. doi:10.1186/s12944-018-0711-yFree full textPubMed 29558953DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error