Beet

Beet/Nutrient Depletion:

  • GlucoseGlucose: Although studies evaluating the effects of beet fiber on glucose metabolism have yielded inconsistent results, some studies have shown that beet fiber supplementation may reduce postprandial glucose and insulin levels and impact other parameters of glucose metabolism in some patients (10; 7; 13; 14).
  • LipidsLipids: Although studies evaluating the effects of beet fiber on lipid levels have yielded inconsistent results, some clinical studies have shown that beet fiber supplementation may increase cholesterol excretion; lower total serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides; and increase HDL levels in some patients (9; 10; 7; 11; 12; 15; 13).
  • StarchesStarches: A clinical study evaluating the effects of sugar beet and pea fibers on the absorption of wheat bread showed that both supplements increased the fraction of unabsorbed starch, affected the amount of starch absorbed by the small intestine, and increased meal transit time (37). The authors concluded that beet and pea fiber altered wheat starch absorption and increased the amount of starch available for colonic fermentation.