Questions about fiber supplements and their effectiveness on lowering cholesterol
Q: I am embarking on dietary changes in an effort to lower my cholesterol. I want to supplement my diet with soluble fiber. Are fiber supplements based on inulin as effective as those based on psyllium seed in lowering one's cholesterol? -C.Q., Boston

A: Inulin is a finber that occurs naturally in plants such as onions and Jerusalem artichokes. Psyllium is extracted from the husks of psyllium seeds and is the fiber found in supplements like Metamucil. Studies have shown that adding even small amounts of fiber supplements like psyllium can lead to significant drops in both bad cholesterol and total cholesterol.

While inulin and psyllium are both forms of fiber, there's far more research on the cholesterol-lowering benefits of psyllium. Studies of inulin have been mixed with some showing modest reductions in triglyceride levels or bad cholesterol, but others showing no immprovement at all, according to a 2002 report in the British Journal of Nutrition. "The evidence is more consistent that psyllium supplementation lowers total and LDL cholesterol, " says Jane Higdon, who last fall authored an extensive review of fiber for the Linus Pauling Institute's Micronutrient Information Center at Oregon State University. Dr. Higdon's lengthy review of fiber can be found on the center's web site at http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/index.html.

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