The participants were told to mix their similar-tasting orange powders with liquid and drink them twice daily, before breakfast and dinner. Anderson found the psyllium compound consistently put patients in lower cholesterol categories compared to the placebo treatment. The benefit particularly is striking for so-called low density lipoproteins. Although statins are considered powerful and safe cholesterol reducers, some patients don't tolerate them well, Anderson said, and others don't want to take medications. The study shows that combining psyllium with a healthy diet could be a logical substitute.
Psyllium apparently lowers cholesterol by dragging bile acids out of the body.
These substances otherwise would be converted into cholesterol, Anderson said. Other foods, such as soy protein and oat bran, also can reduce cholesterol but they may not be as convenient or available as psyllium supplements.