The impact of fiber supplementation on ADMA levels.
BACKGROUND
Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an emerging biomarker that has been associated with oxidative metabolism and increased cardiovascular risk. Little information is available regarding the effect of diet on ADMA.


METHODS
The authors studied 86 overweight/obese adults as part of a clinical trial of psyllium supplementation to determine whether 3 months of such supplementation would affect ADMA levels. Forty-one people in the intervention group received 14 g/day of psyllium in addition to their usual diet compared with 45 controls who followed their usual diet alone. The 2 groups were comparable at baseline in demographic characteristics and body mass index.


RESULTS
Baseline ADMA levels were elevated in this overweight/obese population compared with published reference values in healthy individuals (0.75 vs 0.50 micromol/L). The change in ADMA levels over 3 months was not different in the psyllium group compared with the control group (-.03 vs -.01 micromol/L, P=.73).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings do not support a significant effect of psyllium fiber supplementation on ADMA.
King
Dana E
DE
Digestive Disease Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Family Medicine, 295 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. kingde@musc.edu
DeLegge
Mark
M
D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011620:Psyllium; D012639:Seeds
D015415:Biomarkers; D004043:Dietary Fiber; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D011620:Psyllium; D001120:Arginine