Clinical Studies Pertaining to the Science of Psyllium

Anderson, J., Allgood, L., Lawrence, A., et al. "Cholesterol-lowering effects of psyllium intake adjunctive to diet therapy in men and women with hypercholesterolemia: meta-analysis of 8 controlled trials." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 71:472-9. 2000.

Viscous soluble fibers, including those from psyllium husk, have been shown to augment the cholesterol-lowering effects of a low-fat
diet in persons with hypercholesterolemia. As evidence of this, the US Food and Drug Administration recently authorized the use of health
claims on food products containing viscous soluble fiber from psyllium that state that they are associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease.

Olson, B.H., Sallee, M., et al. "Psyllium-enriched cereals lower blood total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, but not HDL cholesterol,
in hypercholesterolemic adults: results of a Meta-analysis." American Society for Nutritional Sciences 127:1973-80. 1997.

The meta-analysis showed that subjects who consumed a psyllium cereal had lower TC and LDL-C concentrations than subjects
who ate a control cereal; HDL-C concentrations were unaffected in subjects eating psyllium cereal.

Brown, L., Rosner, B., Willett, W.W., et al. "Cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary fiber: a meta-analysis." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 69:30-42. 1999.

Various viscous soluble fibers reduce total and LDL cholesterol by similar amounts. The effect is small within
the practical range of intake. Increasing viscous soluble fiber can make only a small contribution to dietary therapy to lower cholesterol.

Rupa, Narayan. "Meet psyllium: a fiber product with potential cardioprotective effects." Nutrition Noteworthy 7: Article 3. 2005.

Fiber products, traditionally used for alleviating gastrointestinal states such as constipation, have also been
investigated for their potential beneficial cardiovascular effects. Psyllium is a soluble dietary fiber derived from the plant Genus Plantago.

Theuwissen, E., Mensink, R.P. "Water-soluble dietary fibers and cardiovascular disease." Physiology & Behavior 94: 285-292. 2008.

Well-controlled intervention studies have now shown that four major water-viscous soluble fiber types—beta-glucan, psyllium, pectin, and guar gum—effectively lower serum LDL cholesterol concentrations, without affecting HDL cholesterol or triacylglycerol concentrations.

Anderson, J.W. "All fibers are not created equal." The Journal of Medicine 2:121-4. 2009.

Psyllium is a potent fiber supplement that improves laxation and lowers blood cholesterol.

Anderson, J.W., Moreyra, A. "Expert Views: Fiber supplements are not created equal." Procter & Gamble Co. newsletter.

In an effort to raise awareness about heart disease and encourage Americans to adopt healthier lifestyles, February has been proclaimed
American Heart Month. In keeping with these goals, dietary fibers are increasingly recognized for their heart-healthy benefits, which
include proven cholesterol-lowering effects as well as beneficial effects on key risk factors such as weight and glucose levels.