2.4. Protective effect of FPP on the antioxidant defenses of pre-diabetics
2.4.1. Study design of clinical trial
127 Pre-diabetic Mauritians were recruited based on the following inclusion
criteria: (1) fasting blood glucose range 5.1–5.9 mM/L; (2) age 25–60 years; (3)
non-smoker or stopped for more than 6 months; (4) alcoholic consumption less
than 2 standard drinks/day; (5) post-menopausal women not receiving hormone
replacement treatment; and (6) not receiving glucose-lowering, cholesterol-lowering
or anti-hypertension treatment. The study consisted of a randomized, controlled
clinical trial with treatment and control groups running in parallel. The treatment
group received 6 g FPP dissolved in 200 ml (1 cup) water per day before mealtimes
for a period of 14 weeks. This supplementation period was then followed by a
2 weeks wash out. The control group consumed an equivalent amount of water.