Soluble Fiber and its Effects on

Serum Cholesterol
By: Aimee Merkle-Scotland, Brandi Leavitt,
Caitlyn Sward, Jessica Coulter, Joe Petrosino, Madison Hoyt, and Sarah
Skinger
AH 4241
November 2018
The Claim
“Oatmeal can help
reduce cholesterol”

The mechanism:
- Soluble fiber binds to bile in
the intestine, preventing the
reabsorption of cholesterol into
the bloodstream
Introduction
Some vocabulary to keep in mind:

● Soluble fiber- turns into a gel-like

substance in the intestine to slow
absorption
● Blood Lipids- the levels of blood
cholesterol and triglycerides in your
blood
● Serum cholesterol- refers to your LDL
(“bad”) cholesterol
 “Effect on blood lipids of very high intakes of fiber in diets low in
saturated fat and cholesterol.”
Purpose:
● To determine if eating soluble fiber would further
reduce blood cholesterol levels even if intake of
saturated fat and dietary cholesterol were very low.
● Crossover Design Randomised Control Trial
Methods:
● 43 Volunteers with Hyperlipidemia
● Two 4-month dietary periods. Both diets:
○ Low in Saturated Fat (<4% of total calories)
○ Low in Dietary Cholesterol (<25mg per 1,000 kcal)
○ High in carbohydrates (> 60% total calories)
○ High in Soluble Fiber OR Insoluble Fiber (>24g per 1,000 kcal)
(Jenkins et al. 1993)
 “Effect on blood lipids of very high intakes of fiber in diets low in
(Jenkins et al. 1993)
saturated fat and cholesterol.”

Results:

- Both diets lowest after 4 weeks

- total cholesterol 4.9% (±0.9, P<0.001);

- LDL cholesterol, 4.8% (±1.3%,P<0.001); HDL cholesterol, 3.4 (±1.3% P = 0.014)

- Differences in total cholesterol greater for men (7.5% ±1.2%) than women (3.4% ±1.2%) (both
P<.001)

Conclusion:

“Very high intakes of foods rich in soluble fiber lower blood cholesterol levels even when the main
dietary modifiers of blood lipids -- namely, saturated fat and cholesterol -- are greatly reduced.”
 “Effects of 3 g of soluble fiber from oats on lipid levels of Asian Indians - a
randomized controlled, parallel arm study”

Purpose:

● Assessing diet-based strategies in preventing

cardiovascular disease using lipid parameters

Methods:

● Short-term, prospective, open-labeled, randomized controlled, parallel group

study
○ 69 subjects split into 2 groups (33 in control groups, 36 in intervention group)
○ Intervention group consumed 70 grams of oats twice a day
○ Lipid parameters were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks of the study

(Gulati, S., Misra, A., & Pandey, R., 2017)

Conclusion:
Results:
● Hypercholesterolemic Asian Indians
that consumed 3g of soluble fiber
daily (only ½ cup of oats!) for 28
days saw a greater decrease in both
overall cholesterol and lipoprotein
cholesterol than the control group
This is a minor lifestyle change that can
actively influence cholesterol levels (as
supported by the oatmeal advertisement)
● The intervention group saw an 8.1%
reduction in total cholesterol levels
(p<0.02), & an 11.6% decrease in
lipoprotein cholesterol specifically
(p<0.04)
○ The control group saw a 3.1%
reduction and 4.6% reduction in those
levels respectively
● There was no significant change in
anthropometric parameters and blood
pressure post-intervention
(Gulati, S., Misra, A., & Pandey, R., 2017)
 “Effects of 3 g of soluble fiber from oats on lipid levels of Asian Indians - a
randomized controlled, parallel arm study”

(Gulati, S., Misra,

A., & Pandey,
R., 2017)
Overall Findings
Overall: Both studies show the significant impact dietary soluble fiber has on the reduction of total
cholesterol

1st Study: compared the 2nd Study: compared the Overall Concerns: the need for
difference of soluble fiber difference of adding 70 grams of further research with a longer
with insoluble fiber oats to the diet to a normal daily duration and larger sample
diet size
- Displayed evidence of - Displayed the cholesterol
- Potential risk of
soluble fiber lowering properties of oats as
increasing colon cancer
contributing to a well as the potential benefits on
due to soluble fiber’s
insulin sensitivity and glycemic
greater reduction in ability to increase decal
parameters → control serum
plasma LDL and bile acids
triglycerides
apolipoprotein B
 Which food is the best
example of a food

iClicker containing dietary soluble

fiber?
Question a. Wheat bran
b. Oatmeal
c. Chicken
d. Leafy greens
 Which food is the best
example of a food
containing dietary soluble
iClicker fiber?
Question a. Wheat bran
b. Oatmeal
c. Chicken
d. Leafy greens
Conclusion
● Diet can play an essential role in lowering your total cholesterol
● Role of soluble fiber: attracts to water and becomes a sticky/gel consistency → can
reduce the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream
● Scientific research evidently support the hypothesis that soluble fiber does have an
impact on decreasing serum cholesterol

Recommended:

● Greater than 5 gram of soluble fiber a day can decrease LDL cholesterol levels
● 1 serving of oat bran cereals or oatmeal provides 3 to 4 grams + fruit (banana or
berries) = MORE FIBER!
* A small lifestyle change such as adding soluble fiber into your daily diet can have a
significant impact on your total cholesterol
References
Gulati, S., Misra, A., & Pandey, R. (2017). Effects of 3 g of soluble fiber from oats on lipid levels of Asian Indians – a
randomized, controlled, parallel arm study. Lipids in Health and Disease, 16, 71. doi: 10.1186/s12944-017-0460-3

Jenkins DJ., Wolever TM., Rao AV., Hegele RA., Mitchell SJ., Ransom TP., Boctor DL., Spadafora PJ., Jenkins AL.,
Mehling C., et al. (1993). Effect on blood lipids of very high intakes of fiber in diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
The New England Journal of Medicine, 329, 21-26. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199307013290104

Mayo Clinic. Cholesterol: Top foods to improve your numbers. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-

cholesterol/in-depth/cholesterol/art-20045192.

Photos:
https://www.amazon.com/Quaker-Fashioned-Oatmeal-Breakfast-Canister/dp/B000PWNIE8
https://www.pancan.org/news/friday-fix-lets-talk-fiber/
https://www.costco.com/Quaker-Oats-Old-Fashioned-Hot-Oatmeal-Cereal%2C-10-lbs..product.100381521.html
https://www.wholegreenwellness.com/happy-heart-month/