Long-term blood cholesterol-lowering effects of a dietary fiber supplement.
BACKGROUND
The study evaluated the blood cholesterol-lowering effects of a dietary supplement of water-soluble fibers (guar gum, pectin) and mostly non-water-soluble fibers (soy fiber, pea fiber, corn bran) in subjects with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia (LDL cholesterol, 3.37-4.92 mmol/L).


METHODS
After stabilization for 9 weeks on a National Cholesterol Education Program Step 1 Diet, subjects were randomly assigned to receive 20 g/d of the fiber supplement (n = 87) or matching placebo (n = 82) for 15 weeks and then receive the fiber supplement for 36 weeks. The efficacy analyses included the 125 subjects (58 fiber; 67 placebo) who were treatment and diet compliant. One hundred two (52 fiber; 50 placebo) completed the 15-week comparative phase. Of these subjects 85 (45 fiber; 40 placebo) elected to continue in the 36-week noncomparative extension phase.


RESULTS
The mean decreases during the 15-week period for LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were greater (P < 0.001) in the fiber group. The mean changes from pre-treatment values in LDL-C, TC, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio for subjects in the fiber group were -0.51 mmol/L (-12.1%), -0.53 mmol/L (-8.5%), and -0.30 (-9.4%), respectively. The corresponding changes in the placebo group were -0.05 mmol/L (-1.3%), -0.05 mmol/L (-0.8%), and 0.05 (1.5%), respectively. The fiber supplement had no significant effects (P > 0.05) on HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride, iron, ferritin, or vitamin A or E levels. Similar effects were seen over the subsequent 36-week noncomparative part of the study.


CONCLUSIONS
The fiber supplement provided significant and sustained reductions in LDL-C without reducing HDL-C or increasing triglycerides over the 51-week treatment period.
Knopp
R H
RH
N.W. Lipid Research Clinic, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Superko
H R
HR
Davidson
M
M
Insull
W
W
Dujovne
C A
CA
Kwiterovich
P O
PO
Zavoral
J H
JH
Graham
K
K
O'Connor
R R
RR
Edelman
D A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol