JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

A high intake of dietary fiber has been shown to improve glycemic control and decrease hyperinsulinemia in people living with Type 2 diabetes (T2D). T2D patients in Japan consume less than the recommended amount of fiber. Based on findings from a formative study, we developed an AI-powered mobile health (mHealth) intervention, FiberMore, that uses the Theory of Planned Behavior to help T2D patients increase their dietary fiber intake by enhancing their perceived behavioral control and attitude toward fiber consumption.

Objective:

In this pilot randomized controlled trial, we aim to assess the efficacy of FiberMore in improving the dietary fiber intake of T2D patients. In addition, we want to explore the efficacy of FiberMore in reducing HbA1c of T2D patients via improvement in dietary fiber intake.

Methods:

This is a randomized, single-blinded, multi-center study targeting 80 T2D patients from 3 institutions in Japan with a 2-week run-in, a 12-week intervention, and a 12-week observation. The intervention group is given access to FiberMore throughout the 12-week intervention period. A core feature of FiberMore is AI-powered meal photo logging using a fine-tuned GPT-4o model which analyzes the nutrient content of meals and delivers personalized, real-time feedback on fiber content. In addition, FiberMore provides personalized fiber goal setting and supports participants in identifying barriers to increasing fiber intake, along with corresponding coping strategies (labeled as “solutions” to the participant), through an AI chatbot. The AI chatbot also assesses participants’ emotional attitudes toward eating more fiber and delivers relevant educational content on dietary fiber. The control group receives a sham intervention focused on salt reduction, consisting of educational content delivered at three time points during the intervention period, and records their daily efforts in salt reduction in a diary. The 12-week intervention period will be followed by a 12-week observational period to investigate the sustainability of the intervention’s effects. The primary outcome is between-group difference in the change of dietary fiber intake at 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes include HbA1c, other clinical measures, measurements of behavior changes, and assessment of participants' satisfaction and perceived usefulness of the intervention.

Results:

Recruitment began on February 12, 2025, and is expected to end by June 2025. We anticipate that the intervention period will conclude in September 2025 and the observation period will conclude in December 2025. As of 16 May 2025, 50 patients have been recruited.

Conclusions:

There are currently no mHealth dietary interventions that specifically focus on increasing fiber intake in Japan, highlighting the novelty of this intervention. This trial will generate important evidence on the efficacy, feasibility, and safety of an AI-based mHealth intervention for enhancing dietary fiber intake and glycemic control in free-living individuals with T2D. Furthermore, as a pilot study, it will offer valuable insights into the development of AI as a promising tool for accurate, low-burden dietary assessment.