Hypercholesterolemia: a look at low-cost treatment and treatment adherence.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a positive cholesterol-lowering effect could be achieved with a psyllium dose of 6 grams per day instead of the usual 10 grams per day as advocated by other researchers.


METHODS
Randomized trial of 46 males and females with hypercholesterolemia; multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures on 1 factor done on 28 subjects (18 in treatment group, 10 in control group) remaining after 16 weeks of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Lipoprotein analysis at 2, 8, and 16 weeks indicated that a daily dose of 6 grams of psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid did not significantly affect serum total cholesterol nor low-density lipoproteins in either men or women with hypercholesterolemia. The effects of psyllium on hypercholesterolemia appear to be dose dependent.


CONCLUSIONS
Although it is a low cost option, the addition of psyllium to the diet has unpleasant side-effects, including abdominal distention, flatulence, and discomfort. Because these side effects are troublesome, the lowest effective dose of psyllium may be an important factor in improving treatment adherence.
Flannery
J
J
Florida State University School of Nursing, USA. jflanner@mailer.fsu.edu
Raulerson
A
A
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D002400:Cathartics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011620:Psyllium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002400:Cathartics; D011620:Psyllium