Soluble-fibre concentrate lowers plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in baboons (Papio ursinus)

The effects of a soluble NSP (fibre) concentrate (SFC) on plasma fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), serum and liver lipids and lipoproteins and glucose tolerance were compared with those of bezafibrate (BF), a lipid-lowering drug, in obese baboons (Papio ursinus). The basal diet was a high-fat (37% of total energy), low-NSP (12.4 g/d) Westernized diet, supplemented for 8 weeks with either 20 SFCg/baboon per d or 6.7 mg BF/kg body weight per baboon per d. SFC supplementation significantly lowered PAI-1, total serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and circulating free fatty acid levels. BF significantly lowered total serum cholesterol, but unexpectedly raised serum triacylglycerol levels. Although not statistically significant, the mean liver triacylglycerol concentration of baboons fed on BP was lower than that of baboons fed on SFC supplements. These results suggest that: (1) the mechanism of action of the two cholesterol-lowering treatments differ, with BF having a liver triacylglycerol-lowering effect and (2) the SFC ahd additional beneficial effect on fibrinolysis by lowering PAI-1 levels.