EFFECT OF TWO DIETARY SOLUBLE FIBERS ON CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN HUMAN PLASMA J. Robert Cade, R. Malcolm Privette, Virginia B. Zele and Melvin J. Fregly
ABSTRACT: As elevation of concentrations of serum cholesterol, particularly the LDL fraction, and of serum triglyceride has been shown to correlate with development of coronary artery atherosclerosis while reduction of these lipid moieties retards or reverses atherogenesis. It is important to find approaches which favorably alter serum lipids without undesirable side effects. We have studied two soluble fibers, which
Departments of Medicine and Physiology, College of Medicine,
can be administered in a palatable drink, to ascertain their effect on cholesterol and triglycerides in 14 men and 10 women, who were found during a four week period to have consistently elevated cholesterol and
University of Florida, Gainesville,
triglyceride concentrations. After the control period, the subjects were
FL 32610-0204
divided into three groups. One group was given a placebo (P) which contained citric acid and orange flavor and was sweetened with 1/4 g
Running Title: Dietary Fibers on
Aspertame and 5 g sucrose per 8 oz.; the second group received the
Cholesterol and Triglyceride
same drink to which 6 g Gum Arabic {GA) /8 oz was added; the third the same drink to which 4 g carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was added. Each subject ingested 8 oz of drink TIO ac and at bedtime for eight weeks, during which total cholesterol, HDLC, LDLC and triglycerides were measured at weekly intervals. All patients were then changed from their original test drink to one of the other drinks for eight weeks and then crossed over again to the third drink so that during the course
Send Correspondence to:
of the study all subjects received GA 24 g/day, CMC l6 g/day, and
J. Robert Cade, M.D.
placebo for eight weeks. Eight subjects then ingested the drink with
Departments of Medicine and
GA 4 g/8 oz for an additional eight weeks. There were no changes in
Physiology Box 100204, JHMHC University of Florida
TC, HDLC, LDLC, the ratio HDLC/LDLC, or triglycerides during placebo administration. During GA 6 g/8 oz TC fell 17.9% (p<0.01), LDLC 21.4% (p<0.001), HDLC increased 12.9% (p<0.06), the ratio HDLC/LDLC increased 44% (p<O. 001} while triglycerides decreased 50%. When
Gainesville, FL 32610-0204
GA 4 g/8 oz was tested TC decreased 5.6% {p<0.05), LDLC and HDLC
Tel: (904) 392-8952
did not change, nor did the ratio HDLC/LDLC. Triglycerides, however,
Fax: (904) 392-8481
decreased 42.7% (p<0.05). When CMC was given TC decreased Continued on next page