title: The formation of short-chain fatty acids is positively associated with the blood lipid-lowering effect of lupin kernel fiber in moderately hypercholesterolemic adults.
abstract: Lupin kernel fiber beneficially modifies blood lipids because of its bile acid-binding capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive effects of a lupin kernel fiber preparation on cardiovascular diseases and to clarify possible mechanisms. In a randomized, double-blind, controlled crossover trial, 60 moderately hypercholesterolemic adults (plasma total cholesterol: >5.2 mmol/L) passed 3 intervention periods in different orders with a 2-wk washout phase between each. Participants consumed either a high-fiber diet containing 25-g/d lupin kernel fiber (LF) or citrus fiber (CF), or a low-fiber control diet (CD) for 4 wk each. Anthropometric, plasma, and fecal variables were assessed at baseline and after the interventions. Contrary to the CF period, total (9%) and LDL (12%) cholesterol as well as triacylglycerols (10%) were lower after the LF period when compared with the CD period [P ≤ 0.02, adjusted for baseline, age, gender, and body mass index (BMI)]. HDL cholesterol remained unchanged. Moreover, the LF period reduced high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0.02) and systolic blood pressure (P = 0.01) when compared with baseline. Bile acid binding could not be shown because the excretion of total bile acids remained constant after the high-fiber diets. However, the LF period resulted in an enhanced formation of the main short-chain fatty acids in comparison with the CD period. During the CF period, only acetate increased significantly. Both high-fiber diets led to higher satiety and modified nutritional behavior, resulting in significantly lower body weight, BMI, and waist circumference compared with the CD period. The blood lipid-lowering effects of LF are apparently not a result of bile acid binding. Rather, we hypothesize for the first time, to our knowledge, that the blood lipid-lowering effects of LF may be mainly attributed to the formation of short-chain fatty acids, specifically propionate and acetate. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01035086.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Physiology, Institute of Nutrition, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fechner
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiehntopf
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jahreis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D002957:Citrus / Q000737:chemistry; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D031297:Lupinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile