Are Certain Types of Fiber Good for Lowering Blood Cholesterol Levels?

Soluble fibers include beta-glucans, mucilages, pectins, gums, and some hemicelluloses and are purported to reduce blood cholesterol. Soluble fibers may bind to cholesterol in the digestive tract rendering them unavailable for absorption. Psyllium, oat, and barley fiber are among the most advantageous providers of soluble fiber and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows claims on food packages linking the consumption of these fibers to a reduction in cholesterol. Look for the following health claim on a food containing psyllium fiber: “The soluble fiber from psyllium seed husk in this product, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.” A product must contain at least 1.7 grams of soluble fiber from psyllium seed husk per serving in order to have the health claim on its label.

Additionally, there is evidence to suggest that the short-chain fatty acids (acetic, butyric, propionic, and valeric acids) and lactate produced in the colon by bacterial breakdown of soluble dietary fibers may reduce cholesterol formation in the liver. Thus, soluble fibers can inhibit cholesterol absorption from the digestive tract as well as cholesterol production in the liver. These two factors may lead to reductions in the level of cholesterol in blood; this will be explored more thoroughly in Chapter 13.