Lipid-Lowering Effects of Dietary Fiber.

Soluble dietary fibers have been shown to reduce total plasma cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, the two important risk factors for coronary heart disease. Multiple mechanisms appear to be involved in the hypocholesterolemic response, and data indicate that the profile of operating mechanisms may vary considerably among different dietary fiber sources. The mechanisms which have been suggested include binding of bile acids and interference with their enterohepatic circulation, interference with micelle formation, and reduced hepatic cholesterol synthesis. An examination of hypocholesterolemic action of dietary pectin indicates that this effect is due to a shift of cholesterol from plasma to the hepatic pools.