Objective  To investigate the effects of inulin and chicory on glucose control and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes.

  Methods  Seventy-five patients with type 2 diabetes were assigned to inulin group (n=25), chicory group (n=25), and control group (n=25) with matching gender and body mass index. The three groups were all given diabetes diets, in addition, 15 g inulin and 120 g chicory daily were added in the inulin group and the chicory group, respectively. All the patients' fasting blood glucose (FBG), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profiles, aminotransferase, and creatinine were observed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks, and the changes of all those parameters were compared.

  Results  The numbers of patients finishing this study in the inulin, chicory, and control groups were 23, 22, and 23, respectively. At baseline, none of the parameters showed significant difference among the three groups (P > 0.05). At 4 weeks, the changes of FBG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in the inulin group showed a decreasing trend compared with the control group; and the differences in changes of FBG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, TC, and LDL-c were significant at 8 weeks (P < 0.05), while the changes of other parameters showed no significant difference(P > 0.05). The changes of all the parameters showed no significant difference between the chicory group and the control group at 4 weeks and 8 weeks (P > 0.05).

  Conclusions  Inulin is conducive to blood glucose control and lipid profiles in type 2 diabetes, and does not affect liver and renal functions. In contrast, chicory has no significant effect on glucose control or lipid profiles in type 2 diabetes.