Ghrelin increases appetite and food intake via centrally mediating actions, while peripherally it modulates the pancreatic
b-cell function as well as glucose and lipid metabolism [1].
Leptin acts in an opposite direction to ghrelin to decrease appetite and food intake [2]. Insulinwas posited to act indirectly
via ghrelin and leptin on the suppression of appetite [3,4].
However, attenuated suppressive action of insulin on ghrelin and strong association between insulin resistance and leptin
resistance were shown in type 2 diabetes [3–5].
Glucomannan, a high viscosity soluble dietary fiber, has been shown to improve the glycemic control and peripheral insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes [6].
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of glucomannan as a supplementary treatment to type 2 diabetes mellitus in association with the simultaneous changes of ghrelin and leptin.