Synergistic effects of psyllium in the dietary treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
We investigated psyllium fiber supplementation as a means of enhancing the cholesterol-lowering effect of the phase I American Heart Association diet. Fifty-nine subjects with total serum cholesterol (TC) levels ranging from 5.56 to 10.24 mmol/L (215 to 396 mg/dL) were given a 2-month dietary lead-in followed by 3 months of diet only (29 subjects) or diet supplemented with 20.4 g of psyllium daily (30 subjects). Unlike women, men had a significant decrease in levels of both TC (-8.0%) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (-10.1%) during the dietary lead-in. Psyllium supplementation resulted in an additional 5.5% reduction in the TC levels as compared to diet alone. Psyllium supplementation combined with dietary lead-in resulted in an overall 17.3% decrease in the TC and a 20.0% decrease in LDL-C for men, with decreases of 7.7% and 11.6%, respectively, for women. Psyllium effectively enhances the cholesterol-lowering effect of the phase I diet.
Neal
G W
GW
Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Balm
T K
TK
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011620:Psyllium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D011620:Psyllium; D002784:Cholesterol