Influence of guar on serum lipids in patients with hyperlipidaemia

The antihyperlipidaemic effect of a guar preparation which absorbs a particularly large amount of water has been examined in 13 patients with Type II hyperlipidaemia. A 30-day pre-treatment phase was followed by 60 days of treatment with 4 g guar dissolved in 200-ml liquid at each meal-time (total guar 12 g/day), and a 60-day post-treatment observation period. Routine other clinical blood tests were performed 30, 15 or 0 days before treatment, 15, 30 and 60 days after the start of treatment, and 30 and 60 days after its end. Total cholesterol fell by 0.85 mmol.l-1, from a pre-treatment concentration of 7.4 mmol.l-1 to a treatment value of 6.5 mmol.l-1, and LDL-cholesterol fell by 0.64 mmol.l-1, from 5.5 mmol.l-1 to a treatment value of 4.8 mmol.l-1. There was no significant change in triglyceride and VLDL concentrations during the study. A slight but significant fall in HDL-cholesterol was seen. The sole adverse effect was occasional intestinal discomfort.