Effect of guar gum on blood lipids

Abstract

The effect of guar gum in capsule form on serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein cholesterol (very low-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins) was studied in healthy volunteers in this double-blind study. Twenty-four subjects equally divided into treatment and placebo groups, received 9.0 g/day of guar and glucose in 600 mg identical capsules, respectively, for 4 wk under conditions of constant body weight and dietary stability. Guar significantly lowered serum total cholesterol (16.6% p less than 0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (25.6% p less than 0.05) but had no significant effect (p less than 0.05) on serum triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins and very low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. No significant changes (p greater than 0.05) were seen in blood lipids in the placebo group.