Seven RCTs (n=151) were included in the review. All trials were double-blinded.
There was a statistically significantly smaller increase in triaglycerol concentration in the diacylglycerol groups at two hours (WMD -0.07 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.13 to 0.00mmol/L, p=0.05; seven RCTs, nine comparisons). There were statistically significant differences at four hours (WMD -0.15mmol/L, 95% CI -0.24 to -0.06 mmol/L, p=0.002; seven RCTs, 10 comparisons) and at six hours (WMD -0.14mmol/L, 95% CI -0.23 to -0.05mmol/L, p=0.002; four RCTs, six comparisons). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups: in initial fasting serum triaglycerol concentration (five RCTs); in concentrations at 30 minutes and one hour postprandially (one RCT in each case); at three hours (three RCTs); and at eight hours (two RCTs). There was no evidence of statistically significant heterogeneity between studies in any analysis.
Results of subgroup analyses for patients with and without impaired glucose tolerance were reported for each time interval, as was the linear regression that investigated the impact of daily dosage. There were some indications of publication bias for some analyses, although funnel plots are difficult to interpret with so few studies