Soluble Fiber Enhances Statin's Effects

Soluble Fiber Enhances Statin's Effects

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.--Adding soluble fiber to a pharmaceutical regimento lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol appears to reducethe required amount of the drug, according to researchers from the University ofMedicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. In the 12-week, placebo-controlled study,published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (165:1161-6, 2005)  (http://archinte.ama-assn.org), 68 patients were randomized to receive 20 mg/dsimvastatin plus placebo, 10 mg/d simvastatin plus placebo, or 10 mg/dsimvastatin plus 15 g/d of psyllium (as Metamucil). Cholesterol levels weredetermined every four weeks during the study period.

After eight weeks, the mean LDL levels in the 10 mg/d simvastatin only groupfell by 55 mg/dL from baseline, while the group that also received psylliumshowed a 63 mg/dL reduction in LDL. This was equivalent to the decline in LDLseen in the 20 mg/d simvastatin group, with similar decreases observed inapolipoprotein B and total cholesterol levels. The researchers concludedpsyllium soluble fiber should be considered a safe and well-tolerated dietarysupplement option to help lower cholesterol.