The cholesterol-lowering effect of a breakfast cereal containing psyllium fibre

To determine the cholesterol-lowering effect of ready-to-eat cereal containing soluble fibre as psyllium (86%), oatmeal and barley on the plasma lipids of otherwise healthy men with mild hypercholesterolaemia, who were already eating a diet low in saturated fats.

Double-blind crossover trial, lasting 12 weeks, in volunteers eating each cereal for six weeks at home, in Sydney and Newcastle (New South Wales).

Eighty-one men (average age 50 years; range, 31-69 years) who had initial plasma (total) cholesterol concentrations of 5.8-8.8 mmol/L, but did not have major illness, obesity or diabetes, and were not on special diets or taking stool bulkers.

One box of cereal was eaten each day: control, 60 g wheat/wheat bran (2 g soluble fibre); or test, 50 g of product containing psyllium/oats/barley (12 g soluble fibre). Subjects were allocated at random, when established on a low saturated fat diet, to wheat followed by psyllium cereal or psyllium followed by wheat cereal.

Plasma total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations measured twice, four to seven days apart before the start of the trial and then after six weeks of eating each cereal.

Compliance was excellent with both cereals. There were no significant differences in subjects' macronutrient intake or body weight between the two six-week periods. Total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations fell significantly on psyllium cereal, relative to wheat cereal, in both periods at both centres (mean -3.2% and -4.4%, respectively). There were no consistent changes in triglyceride or high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations.

This type of product, which is easy to consume on a daily basis, is a useful adjunct to the dietary management of mild hypercholesterolaemia.