Effect of soluble corn fiber supplementation for 1 year on bone mass in children and adolescents: results from the MetA-Bone randomized clinical trial
Article
Palacios, C, Trak-Fellermeier, MA, Hernandez, J et al. (2026). Effect of soluble corn fiber supplementation for 1 year on bone mass in children and adolescents: results from the MetA-Bone randomized clinical trial
. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 123(6), 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101305
Palacios, C, Trak-Fellermeier, MA, Hernandez, J et al. (2026). Effect of soluble corn fiber supplementation for 1 year on bone mass in children and adolescents: results from the MetA-Bone randomized clinical trial
. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 123(6), 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101305
Background: Prebiotic fiber supplementation increases calcium absorption but its long-term effects on bone mass are mixed in children and adolescents. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of 1-y soluble corn fiber (SCF) supplementation compared with that of placebo (maltodextrin; main comparison), with or without calcium (calcium gluconate; secondary comparison) on bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents with low habitual calcium intake through a randomized clinical trial. We hypothesized that SCF supplementation would result in higher bone mass. Methods: Healthy children and adolescents (9–14 y old) with usual low calcium intake were recruited and randomly assigned for 1 y to SCF (12 g/d) or placebo (12 mg/d), with or without calcium (600 mg/d). Bone mass was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline, 6 mo, and 12 mo. Results are shown as mean ± SD. Statistical analyses included linear mixed-effects and analysis of variance. Results: Totally, 213 participants were recruited, of whom 177 were randomized. Most were White (41.3%), Hispanic (69.5%), and with healthy weight (74.0%). Girls had significantly higher Tanner score (3.10 ± 1.20) than boys (2.30 ± 1.20; P < 0.001) and a significantly higher body fat percentage (P < 0.05); therefore, results were stratified by sex. Among completers (n = 151), whole-body BMC and BMD significantly increased from baseline to 6 mo and to 12 mo. In girls, 1-y gain in whole-body BMC was higher with SCF (216.3 ± 138.3 g or 18.8%) than with placebo (139.9 ± 84.0 g, 12.9%) after adjusting for age, Tanner stage, height velocity, weight velocity, lean mass velocity, fat mass velocity, and compliance (P < 0.05). Similar results were found for BMD in girls. This was not observed in boys or when calcium supplementation was added. Conclusions: A 1-y supplementation with SCF results in higher whole-body BMC and BMD than placebo in girls only. This effect could have potential long-term benefits on bone mass acquisition in girls.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02916862 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02916862).
