Abstract
BACKGROUND New dietary strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk include the addition of fiber to the diet. The effect of soluble-fiber consumption derived from Plantago ovata husk on lipid risk factors in patients with CVD is unknown. OBJECTIVE We compared the effects of soluble fiber (P. ovata husk) with those of insoluble fiber (P. ovata seeds) on plasma lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein (apo) concentrations within a CVD secondary prevention program. DESIGN In a randomized, crossover, controlled, single-blind design, 28 men with CVD (myocardial infarction or stable angina) and an LDL-cholesterol concentration ≤3.35 mmol/L consumed for 8 wk, under controlled conditions, a low-saturated-fat diet supplemented with 10.5 g P. ovata husk/d or 10.5 g P. ovata seeds/d. Fasting plasma lipid concentrations and polymorphisms of genes involved in lipid metabolism, such as apo A-IV, apo E, and fatty acid-binding protein, were measured. RESULTS Plasma triacylglycerol decreased (6.7%; P < 0.02), the ratio of apo B 100 to apo A-I decreased (4.7%; P < 0.02), and apo A-I increased (4.3%; P < 0.01) in the P. ovata husk consumers. Compared with the intake of insoluble fiber, the intake of P. ovata husk increased HDL-cholesterol concentrations by 6.7% (P = 0.006) and decreased the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol and of LDL to HDL cholesterol by 10.6% (P = 0.002) and 14.2% (P = 0.003), respectively. CONCLUSION In the secondary prevention of CVD, P. ovata husk intake induces a more beneficial effect on the cardiovascular lipid risk-factor profile than does an equivalent intake of insoluble fiber.
