Carob pulp preparation rich in insoluble fibre lowers total and ldl cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Auteur(s) :
Koebnick C., Graubaum HJ., Grunwald J., Haber B., Harde A., Luder W., Zunft HJ.
Date :
Oct, 2003
Source(s) :
European journal of nutrition. #42:5 p235-242
Adresse :
Institute for Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558, Bergholz-Rehbrucke, Germany, [email protected]

Sommaire de l'article

BACKGROUND: Recently, insoluble fibre from carob pulp has been found to affect blood lipids in animals in a similar manner as soluble dietary fibre.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate whether a carob pulp preparation containing high amounts of insoluble fibre has a beneficial effect on serum cholesterol in humans.

METHODS: Volunteers (n = 58) with hypercholesterolemia were recruited to participate in a randomised, double- blind, placebo-controlled and parallel arm clinical study with a 6 week intervention phase. All participants consumed daily both, bread (two servings) and a fruitbar (one serving) either with (n = 29) or without (n = 29) a total amount of 15 g/d of a carob pulp preparation (carob fibre). Serum concentrations of total, LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were assessed at baseline and after week 4 and 6.

RESULTS: The consumption of carob fibre reduced LDL cholesterol by 10.5 +/- 2.2% (p = 0.010). The LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio was marginally decreased by 7.9 +/- 2.2 % in the carob fibre group compared to the placebo group (p = 0.058). Carob fibre consumption also lowered triglycerides in females by 11.3 +/- 4.5% (p = 0.030). Lipid lowering effects were more pronounced in females than in males.

CONCLUSION: Daily consumption of food products enriched with carob fibre shows beneficial effects on human blood lipid profile and may be effective in prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

Source : Pubmed
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