The Medical journal of Australia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Role of guar and dietary fibre in the management of diabetes mellitus.
High-fibre diets, particularly with the addition of guar gum, have been reported to improve control of blood glucose concentration in diabetics. These studies are reviewed, and the results of a study of 22 obese, poorly controlled, poorly compliant diabetic outpatients are presented. In a random, single-blind controlled trial, either guar, or bran, or placebo were added to the previous diet. ⋯ Problems of tolerance were experienced with guar gum. Therefore, supplementation of the diet of such patients with guar gum or bran does not produce long-term improvements in diabetic control in a clinical context. The use of naturally occurring high-fibre foods may slightly improve diabetic control in motivated patients, but further long-term trials are required to establish whether dietary fibre will have any significant role in the practical management of diabetes.
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Forty newborn babies who were shown to be excreting rotaviruses within a few days of birth were tested daily for one month. Most were found to excrete virus for only a short period of time. In 48% of babies, virus was found on one day only, in 25% it was present for two days, and in 10% for three days. ⋯ Infection rates did not differ significantly between breast-fed and bottle-fed babies. Likewise, maternal antibody levels could not be shown to have any effect on infection. No rotavirus particles were found in breast milk.