Psyllium-enriched cereals lower blood total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, but not HDL cholesterol, in hypercholesterolemic adults: results of a meta-analysis.
We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effect of consumption of psyllium-enriched cereal products on blood total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and to estimate the magnitude of the effect among 404 adults with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia (TC of 5.17-7.8 mmol/L) who consumed a low fat diet. Studies of psyllium cereals were identified by a computerized search of MEDLINE and Current Contents and by contacting United States-based food companies involved in psyllium research. Published and unpublished studies were reviewed by one author and considered eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis if they were conducted in humans, were randomized, controlled experiments, and included a control group that ate cereal providing </=3 g soluble fiber/d. Eight published and four unpublished studies, conducted in four countries, met the criteria. Analysis of a linear model was performed, controlling for sex and age. Female subjects were divided into two groups to provide a rough estimate of the effect of menopausal status (premenopausal = <50 y, postmenopausal = >/=50 y) on blood lipids. The meta-analysis showed that subjects who consumed a psyllium cereal had lower TC and LDL-C concentrations [differences of 0.31 mmol/L (5%) and 0.35 mmol/L (9%), respectively] than subjects who ate a control cereal; HDL-C concentrations were unaffected in subjects eating psyllium cereal. There was no effect of sex, age or menopausal status on blood lipids. Results indicate that consuming a psyllium-enriched cereal as part of a low fat diet improves the blood lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic adults over that which can be achieved with a low fat diet alone.
Olson
B H
BH
Kellogg Company, Science and Technology Center, Battle Creek, MI 49016-3423, USA.
Anderson
S M
SM
Becker
M P
MP
Anderson
J W
JW
Hunninghake
D B
DB
Jenkins
D J
DJ
LaRosa
J C
JC
Rippe
J M
JM
Roberts
D C
DC
Stoy
D B
DB
Summerbell
C D
CD
Truswell
A S
AS
Wolever
T M
TM
Morris
D H
DH
Fulgoni
V L
VL
D000328:Adult; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology; D011620:Psyllium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D011620:Psyllium