The influence of long-term ingestion of D-allulose in hypercholesterolemia patients under statin therapy

D-allulose is a non-caloric natural sugar with health benefits. A few clinical trials with continuous D-allulose intake have been reported; one indicated significant increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, though the study was not a randomized controlled trial. D-allulose is predicted to be widely used in the near future by various people; therefore, the influence of D-allulose on those who have high risk for LDL-C elevation needs to be determined. Here, the effects of D-allulose on LDL-C levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia under statin therapy were investigated in a randomized controlled trial. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: 15 g D-allulose/day or 15 g erythritol/day (placebo); each subject consumed a daily test substance for 48 weeks. Clinical examinations were performed every eight weeks, from initial consumption until week 52. No significant increase in LDL-C was observed, although significant decrease was observed in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the D-allulose group. HDL-C values stayed within the standard ranges during the consumption period, and the mechanism was reported to be anti-atherosclerotic. In terms of risk assessment, D-allulose did not affect all risk factors that were measured for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Taken together, these results suggested that long-term D-allulose consumption did not affect LDL-C values and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in patients with hypercholesterolemia under statin therapy.