Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 22, 1990 TAG: 9003221790
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS LENGTH: Short
Both studies looked at water-soluble fiber, the nutrient that has been credited by some with almost magical powers for lowering people's cholesterol levels.
Some dietary experts recommend that people add oat bran, psyllium or other foods that are high in this form of fiber. However, soluble fiber's aura was tarnished recently by another report suggesting that it helps only if it takes the place of fat.
In one of the new studies, doctors found that a twice-daily dose of the laxative Metamucil, which is made from psyllium, appears to lower blood cholesterol levels by about 5 percent, even when people are already on low-fat diets.
The study found that the fiber helped those with mildly to moderately elevated cholesterol levels.
The second study revived the debate over oat bran. Recent research found that those who eat wheat cereal lower their cholesterol levels just as much as oat bran consumers do. The reason: High consumption of both cereals take the place of fatty foods.
In the latest work, Dr. Michael H. Davidson and others from Rush Medical College in Chicago did not directly answer this criticism.
In a study on 140 people, they found that people who eat two bowls of oat bran lower their cholesterol levels more than 9 percent. Three bowls of oatmeal seems to reduce it 7 percent.
However, it was unclear how much they changed other parts of their diet to offset their high daily consumption of cereal.
by CNB