Bitter almond ( Amygdalus communis L. var. amara) gum—a soluble fiber-rich exudate—has been suggested to exhibit prebiotic properties and confer potential cardiometabolic benefits. This study evaluated the effects of bitter almond gum on lipid profiles, anthropometric indices, and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled experiment, 44 women with T2DM were administered either 5 g/day of bitter almond gum or maltodextrin for a duration of 8 weeks. Supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) (−12.02 mg/dL; 95% CI, −21.50, −2.63), triglycerides (TG) (−26.21 mg/dL; 95% CI, −36.12, −16.31), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c) (−5.40 mg/dL; 95% CI, −7.09, −3.61) and several atherogenic indices compared with the placebo group ( P < 0.05, ANCOVA adjusted for baseline and confounding factors). There were also significant drops in weight (−7.70 kg; 95% CI, −10.31, −5.12), BMI (−3.01 kg/m 2 ; 95% CI, −4.00, −2.01), waist circumference (WC) (−3.10 cm; 95% CI, −4.11, −1.32) and other markers of body fat. However, no significant change was observed in systolic blood pressure (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP). These findings suggest that bitter almond gum may offer benefits as a dietary component for improving metabolic parameters in individuals with T2DM. More extensive and prolonged experiments are necessary to validate these findings and clarify the underlying mechanisms. • Bitter almond gum showed modest improvements in some lipid parameters in women with T2DM. • Supplementation reduced weight, BMI, waist circumference, and body fat indices. • HDL-c increased while total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-c decreased. • Safe, natural, soluble fiber with potential as a functional food in T2DM management.
Rafiei et al. (2026) studied this question.