Maryam Emadzadeh, Unidad de Desarrollo de Investigación Clínica, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Centro de Investigación del Síndrome Metabólico, Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;
Amirhossein Sahebkar, Centro de Investigación en Salud Global, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India; Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Centro de Investigación Biomédica Aplicada, Basic Sciences Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mohammed A. Abdalla, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
Sercan Karav, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genética, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey
Tannaz Jamialahmadi, Centro de Investigación Farmacéutica, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Luis E. Simental-Mendía, Unidad de Investigación Biomédica, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Durango, México
Background: Some studies have reported that allulose consumption improves postprandial glucose and insulin levels, while others indicate minimal or no effects. Therefore, we assessed the impact of allulose administration on glycemic parameters through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Material and methods: The search was made in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. RCTs with either parallel or cross-over design, investigating the effects of allulose on glycemic parameters, and exhibiting complete outcomes at baseline and the end of follow-up in both intervention and control groups were eligible for meta-analysis. Nevertheless, uncontrolled trials, non-randomized trials, trials without a control group, observational studies, and incomplete outcomes at baseline or the end of the follow-up were exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was performed using comprehensive meta-analysis V2 software. Results: The meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials showed that allulose significantly decreased plasma glucose in the subgroup with high glycemic index control groups (mean difference [MD] = −4.23 mg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI]: −7.11, −1.35), p = 0.004), but no significant effect in the low glycemic index control groups (MD = 0.68 mg/dL (95% CI: −1.84, 3.21), p = 0.59). Allulose did not affect insulin levels in studies with either a high (MD = −1.52 mU/mL (95% CI: −4.18, 1.13), p = 0.26) and low (MD = −0.19 mU/mL (95% CI: −1.33, 0.95), p = 0.74) glycemic index control group. Finally, allulose significantly reduced the area under the curve of plasma glucose in both subgroups with high (MD = −2.34 (95% CI: −2.94, −1.74), p < 0.001) and low (MD = −0.56 (95% CI: −0.99, −0.14), p = 0.009) glycemic index control intervention, but this variable was not changed for insulin in studies with high (MD = −0.37 (95% CI: −1.01, 0.26), p = 0.25) and low (MD = −0.21 (95% CI: −0.45, 0.03), p = 0.08) glycemic index control group. Conclusion: We suggest that the administration of allulose reduces plasma glucose but does not affect insulin levels.
Keywords: Allulose. Glucose. Insulin. Randomized controlled trial. Meta-analysis.