Resistant starch is a fermentable starch fraction, not a drug. Reproducible signals are modest fasting-glucose improvement and a rise in colon-feeding fermentation acids when intake is high enough and the gut can ferment it. Insulin-sensitivity findings are mixed. Main harm is gas, bloating, and loose stools. A low-cost, reversible food-pattern lever. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fasting glucose | 70–85 mg/dL (3.9–4.7 mmol/L) | Detects the modest glycemic shift reported in meta-analyses |
| HbA1c | 4.8–5.3% | Captures three-month glucose exposure |
| Fasting insulin | 2–6 µIU/mL | Tracks insulin demand alongside glucose |
| HOMA-IR | <1.0–1.5 | Summarizes fasting insulin sensitivity |
| ALT | <20–25 U/L | Liver-fat trials moved this enzyme |
| LDL-C | <70–100 mg/dL | Lipid metas reported small LDL-C drops |
| Triglycerides | <70–100 mg/dL | Watch for a rise when RS is added, not substituted |
| hs-CRP | <0.5–1.0 mg/L | Optional inflammation check; CRP often unchanged |
Cadence: Baseline panel before a high-dose powder; repeat the same fasting panel at 8–12 weeks, then every 6–12 months if intake continues. Bowel symptoms weekly for the first month.