Method of administration influences the serum cholesterol-lowering effect of psyllium.
To determine whether psyllium must be mixed with food to lower serum cholesterol, 18 modestly hypercholesterolemic subjects were studied for three 2-wk periods, in random order, separated by a 2-wk return to a National Cholesterol Education Program Step 2 diet. Compared with values for subjects consuming control wheat-bran cereal (63 g/d), after 2 wk of 54 g psyllium-enriched cereal/d containing 7.3 g psyllium, serum total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, respectively, were reduced by 8% (6.15 +/- 0.15 vs 6.71 +/- 0.19 mmol/L, P < 0.01), 11% (4.24 +/- 0.15 vs 4.78 +/- 0.19 mmol/L, P < 0.02), and 7% (0.99 +/- 0.05 vs 1.07 +/- 0.05 mmol/L, P < 0.01). When 7.6 g of the same type of psyllium as in the test cereal was taken between meals, serum total (6.50 +/- 0.19 mmol/L), LDL (4.50 +/- 0.21 mmol/L), and HDL (1.06 +/- 0.06 mmol/L) cholesterol were no different from control values, and total cholesterol was greater than after psyllium cereal (P < 0.05). We conclude that psyllium must be mixed with foods to have the maximum effect on serum cholesterol.
Wolever
T M
TM
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Jenkins
D J
DJ
Mueller
S
S
Boctor
D L
DL
Ransom
T P
TP
Patten
R
R
Chao
E S
ES
McMillan
K
K
Fulgoni
V
V
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011620:Psyllium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D011620:Psyllium; D002784:Cholesterol