Chicory-derived inulin-type fructans stabilize fasting glucose and resting energy expenditure in psoriasis patients

Patients with psoriasis, a chronic systemic inflammatory skin disease, frequently experience carbohydrate metabolism disorders. These metabolic issues, including obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, can exacerbate systemic inflammation and disease severity. Current treatments often focus on skin symptoms, but addressing underlying metabolic dysfunction could offer a complementary approach. This study investigates whether dietary inulin-type fructans (ITFs), known prebiotics, can modulate these metabolic parameters in psoriasis patients.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 56 patients with mild psoriasis, randomizing them to receive 15 g/day of inulin-type fructans (ITFs) (n = 29) or a placebo (n = 27) for 8 weeks. A healthy control group (n = 32) provided baseline reference data. Researchers assessed body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), carbohydrate metabolism via fasting glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin, and Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), and resting energy expenditure (RMR, VO2, VCO2) using indirect calorimetry.

At baseline, psoriasis patients exhibited significantly (p < 0.01) higher body mass index and visceral fat, alongside abnormal carbohydrate metabolism parameters, compared to healthy controls. Following the 8-week intervention, the ITFs group maintained stable fasting glucose levels. In contrast, the placebo group showed an undesirable increase in fasting glucose, with a mean change of Δglucose = +5.7 mg/dL (p < 0.01). Energy expenditure analysis revealed a significant treatment effect on RMR and VO2 parameters (p < 0.01).