The effect of resistant dextrin on glucose regulation markers in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Abstract

Objectives: The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) necessitates greater efforts to find effective therapeutic agents for this complex condition. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effects of resistant dextrin (RD) supplementation on markers of glucose regulation in patients with T2D.

Methods: The databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to March 20, 2025 aiming to identify RCTs evaluating the effect of RD supplementation on fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin levels, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with T2D. The meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model to calculate weighted mean differences (WMDs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The quality of the included RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The outcome data was pooled using Stata software, version 11.2.

Results: Four RCTs (260 participants) were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Meta-analyses indicated that RD supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in HbA1c levels (WMD: -0.30%; 95% CI: -0.56 to -0.03; P = 0.02; I²=0.0%). However, the effect of RD on FBS (WMD: -5.45 mg/dl, 95% CI: -12.38 to 1.93; P = 0.14; I²=55.3%) and fasting insulin levels (Hedges' g: -0.26; 95% CI: -0.74 to 0.21; P = 0.28; I²=70.4%) was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that RD supplementation may effectively lower HbA1c levels in patients with T2D. However, it is crucial to conduct more clinical studies with adequate sample sizes and rigorous methodologies to develop evidence-based treatment guidelines.