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Ispaghula Husk Nearly As Effective As Simvastatin For Hyperlipidemia
A DGReview of :"A Comparative Evaluation of Ispaghula Husk (Dietary Fiber) and Simvastatin in Hyperlipidemic Indian Patients"
Indian Heart Journal
12/24/2002
By James Adams
Ispaghula husk (psyllium) is nearly as effective as simvastatin for improving the lipid profile of hyperlipidemic patients.
It is also much cheaper and has fewer side effects than does simvastatin, report investigators from the Government Medical College in Amritsar, India.
The investigators randomized 60 hyperlipidemic patients into two groups of 30. One group received 3.5 grams of ispaghula husk twice a day and the second group received 20 milligrams of simvastatin each day. Treatment continued for 12 weeks, and lipid profiles were evaluated at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks.
Results showed that total cholesterol decreased by 15.8 percent and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased by 22.97 percent among patients taking ispaghula husk.
Triglycerides decreased by 20.89 percent and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased by 10.69 percent in these patients.
Among patients taking simvastatin, total cholesterol decreased by 24.15 percent, LDL cholesterol decreased by 36.08 percent, triglycerides decreased by 20.47 percent and HDL cholesterol increased by 11.4 percent.
Mild gastrointestinal disturbances were reported by 23.34 percent of the ispaghula husk patients. Feelings of cold in the joints and diuresis were each reported by 6.67 percent of ispaghula husk patients.
In the simvastatin group, 26.66 percent reported mild gastrointestinal disturbance, 16.67 percent reported mild myalgia and 6.67 percent experienced insomnia.
Ispaghula husk is an effective and well-tolerated dietary adjunct for patients with hyperlipidemia and should be considered before initiating conventional drug therapy, the investigators conclude.
They point out that larger and longer studies are required to determine the long-term benefits of ispaghula husk.
Indian Heart Journal 2002; 54(5).
"A Comparative Evaluation of Ispaghula Husk (Dietary Fiber) and Simvastatin in Hyperlipidemic Indian Patients"
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