RESULTS The present study indicated that the efficacy of various fiber supplements on losing weight is variable .
Several mechanisms related to physicochemical properties of fibers such as solubility , fermentability and viscosity rates can be involved in their anti-obesity effects .
Dextrin , Mannan ( gum Arabic ) and pectin-rich fiber ( lupin kernel ) with no dietary interventions indicated a reduction in body weight and energy intake , while from clinical point of view , their effects were not considerable .
Overall , findings indicated that the efficacy of fiber supplements on obesity management is dependent on their contents and physicochemical properties .
It seems that fiber supplements with no weight-loss interventions did not have considerable antiobesity effects .
BACKGROUND Previous trials have reported beneficial effects of isolated and complex fiber supplements in obesity treatment .
However , recommending fiber supplements in obese subjects remains controversial .
To the best of our knowledge , no systematic review has up date d the data on the effects of fiber supplements on obesity since 2010 and the need exists for a systematic review on this topic .
Accordingly , a systematic review was undertaken to summarize the efficacy of different types of fiber supplements as a complementary treatment for weight management .
Insight into the prebiotic concept: lessons from an exploratory, double blind intervention study with inulin-type fructans in obese women
Objective To highlight the contribution of the gut microbiota to the modulation of host metabolism by dietary inulin-type fructans ( ITF prebiotics ) in obese women . Methods A double blind , placebo controlled , intervention study was performed with 30 obese women treated with ITF prebiotics ( inulin/oligofructose 50/50 mix ; n=15 ) or placebo ( maltodextrin ; n=15 ) for 3 months ( 16 g/day ) .  Blood , faeces and urine sampling , oral glucose tolerance test , homeostasis model assessment and impedancemetry were performed before and after treatment . The gut microbial composition in faeces was analysed by phylogenetic microarray and qPCR analysis of 16S rDNA . Plasma and urine metabolic profiles were analysed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy . Results Treatment with ITF prebiotics , but not the placebo , led to an increase in Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii ; both bacteria negatively correlated with serum lipopolysaccharide levels .  ITF prebiotics also decreased Bacteroides intestinalis , Bacteroides vulgatus and Propionibacterium , an effect associated with a slight decrease in fat mass and with plasma lactate and phosphatidylcholine levels . No clear treatment clustering could be detected for gut microbial analysis or plasma and urine metabolomic profile analyses . However , ITF prebiotics led to subtle changes in the gut microbiota that may importantly impact on several key metabolites implicated in obesity and /or diabetes . Conclusions ITF prebiotics selectively changed the gut microbiota composition in obese women , leading to modest changes in host metabolism , as suggested by the correlation between some bacterial species and metabolic endotoxaemia or metabolomic signatures
RESULTS The present study indicated that the efficacy of various fiber supplements on losing weight is variable .
Several mechanisms related to physicochemical properties of fibers such as solubility , fermentability and viscosity rates can be involved in their anti-obesity effects .
Dextrin , Mannan ( gum Arabic ) and pectin-rich fiber ( lupin kernel ) with no dietary interventions indicated a reduction in body weight and energy intake , while from clinical point of view , their effects were not considerable .
Overall , findings indicated that the efficacy of fiber supplements on obesity management is dependent on their contents and physicochemical properties .
It seems that fiber supplements with no weight-loss interventions did not have considerable antiobesity effects .
BACKGROUND Previous trials have reported beneficial effects of isolated and complex fiber supplements in obesity treatment .
However , recommending fiber supplements in obese subjects remains controversial .
To the best of our knowledge , no systematic review has up date d the data on the effects of fiber supplements on obesity since 2010 and the need exists for a systematic review on this topic .
Accordingly , a systematic review was undertaken to summarize the efficacy of different types of fiber supplements as a complementary treatment for weight management .