Nutritional Advice El Mondo
Objectives:
Observationally, homocysteine is associated with higher risk of diabetes. Folate, which reduces homocysteine, is promising for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Previous meta-analysis (review) of 3 trials suggested folate might lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.
Have folic acid supplementation positive effects on insulin resistance and glycemic control, like HbA1c level and fasting glucose level?
Study design:
This review article included 18 RCTs with in total of 21,081 people with/without diabetes.
Results and conclusions:
The investigators found that folic acid (folate) supplementation significantly reduced fasting glucose level with 0.15 mmol/L [95% CI = -0.29 to -0.01]. Significant means that there is an association with a 95% confidence.
The investigators found that folic acid (folate) supplementation significantly reduced homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) with 0.83 [95% CI = -1.31 to -0.34].
The investigators found that folic acid (folate) supplementation significantly reduced fasting insulin level with 1.94 μIU/mL [95% CI = -3.28 to -0.61].
The investigators found that folic acid (folate) supplementation had no clear effect on diabetes or HbA1c level.
The investigators concluded that folic acid (folate) supplementation reduces both fasting glucose level, fasting insulin level and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) but it has no effect on diabetes or HbA1c level.
Original title:
The effects of folate supplementation on glucose metabolism and risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by Zhao JV, Schooling CM and Zhao JX.
Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29501221
Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on diabetes and folic acid right here.
Patients with diabetes often have both an increased fasting glucose level, HOMA-IR value and fasting insulin level.