Effects of soybean polysaccharide on plasma lipids

Free-living volunteers with mild to moderate hypercholesteremia added 25 gm soybean polysaccharide or starch placebo in crouton or cookie form to their normal, daily diets. A total of 31 persons completed the blind, crossover design, 8-week, experimental protocol. Subjects ingesting soybean polysaccharide prior to placebo showed an 11% decrease (from 252 to 224 mg/dl) in total plasma cholesterol; those who followed placebo with fiber showed a 5% decrease (from 241 to 230 mg/dl). Starch placebo was associated with a 2% decrease in total cholesterol when consumed first and a 4% increase when consumed following the fiber consumption period. High-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol decreased 8% and 6% from initial values during the first period for the fiber and starch groups, respectively. HDL cholesterol increased 2% but decreased 1% during the second period for starch and fiber, respectively. No significant changes in triglyceride levels occurred. The data indicate that soybean polysaccharide fiber promotes a significant decrease in plasma cholesterol in persons with mild to moderate hypercholesteremia. The addition of fiber may represent an important adjunct to traditional fat- and cholesterol-controlled diets for such persons.