Cholesterol-lowering effects of soluble-fiber cereals as part of a prudent diet for patients with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia.
Soluble-fiber breakfast cereals were examined for their cholesterol-lowering ability in 58 male patients with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients followed a step 1 diet for a minimum of 6 wk, then were randomly assigned to groups incorporating either corn flakes or one of two soluble-fiber cereals (pectin enriched or psyllium enriched) in the diet for an additional 6 wk. During the diet-only phase, total cholesterol dropped 3.8%. During the cereal-plus-diet phase, total and LDL cholesterol values of the pectin-enriched cereal group dropped an additional 2.1% (P = 0.243) and 3.9% (P = 0.16), respectively, and they dropped 5.9% (P = 0.005) and 5.7% (P = 0.034), respectively, in the psyllium-enriched cereal group. During the cereal-plus-diet phase, no significant effects on HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, or body weight were found within or between any cereal groups. These results support use of soluble-fiber cereals as an effective and well-tolerated part of a prudent diet in the treatment of mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia.
Bell
L P
LP
Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Hectorn
K J
KJ
Reynolds
H
H
Hunninghake
D B
DB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004435:Eating; D002523:Edible Grain; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010368:Pectins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011620:Psyllium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012995:Solubility
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008055:Lipids; D011620:Psyllium; D010368:Pectins; D002784:Cholesterol; D007501:Iron