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Cited by 488Food composition and propertiesNutritional Studies and DietLipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health

Water-soluble dietary fibers and cardiovascular disease

Theuwissen, Elke, Mensink, Ronald P.·2008·Physiology & Behavior
DOI 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.01.001
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Abstract

One well-established way to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) is to lower serum LDL cholesterol levels by reducing saturated fat intake. However, the importance of other dietary approaches, such as increasing the intake of water-soluble dietary fibers is increasingly recognized. Well-controlled intervention studies have now shown that four major water-soluble fiber types-beta-glucan, psyllium, pectin and guar gum-effectively lower serum LDL cholesterol concentrations, without affecting HDL cholesterol or triacylglycerol concentrations. It is estimated that for each additional gram of water-soluble fiber in the diet serum total and LDL cholesterol concentrations decrease by -0.028 mmol/L and -0.029 mmol/L, respectively. Despite large differences in molecular structure, no major differences existed between the different types of water-soluble fiber, suggesting a common underlying mechanism. In this respect, it is most likely that water-soluble fibers lower the (re)absorption of in particular bile acids. As a result hepatic conversion of cholesterol into bile acids increases, which will ultimately lead to increased LDL uptake by the liver. Additionally, epidemiological studies suggest that a diet high in water-soluble fiber is inversely associated with the risk of CVD. These findings underlie current dietary recommendations to increase water-soluble fiber intake.

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  • NSPs reduce the reabsorption of bile acids, resulting in synthesis of new bile acids from cholesterol and hence reducing blood cholesterol levels.

    “NSPs have also been suggested to reduce the reabsorption of bile acids (sometimes explained as “binding to bile acids” as demonstrated in vitro (Kritchevsky and Story, 1974; Brownlee, 2011), resulting in synthesis of new bile acids from cholesterol and hence, reducing blood cholesterol levels (Theuwissen and Mensink, 2008).”

    From Role of polysaccharides in food, digestion, and health (2017) · cites this paper as Theuwissen and Mensink, 2008

  • Data from randomized controlled studies indicate that high consumption of water-soluble fibers has a significant cholesterol-lowering effect; each additional gram of water-soluble fiber in the diet lowers plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations by approximately 1.12 mg/L.

    “In particular, data from randomized controlled studies indicate that high consumption of water-soluble fibers (which are found in high concentrations in beans and fruits) has a significant cholesterol-lowering effect; each additional gram of water-soluble fiber in the diet lowers plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations by approximately 1.12 mg/L (41,42).”

    From Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet: Metabolic and Molecular Mechanisms (2018) · cites this paper as [42]

  • Low-glycemic foods rich in dietary fiber have been shown to lower insulin production and increase the levels of short-chain fatty acids produced by fiber fermentation, which inhibit cholesterol synthesis.

    “In addition, low-glycemic foods rich in dietary fiber have been shown to lower insulin production and increase the levels of short-chain fatty acids produced by fiber fermentation, which have both been demonstrated to inhibit cholesterol synthesis (42).”

    From Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet: Metabolic and Molecular Mechanisms (2018) · cites this paper as [42]

  • Water-soluble fiber reduces the reabsorption of cholesterol and bile acids in the small intestine, resulting in augmented LDL uptake by the liver.

    “It has been hypothesized that water-soluble fiber reduces the (re)absorption of cholesterol and bile acids in the small intestine, thus resulting in an augmented LDL uptake by the liver (42).”

    From Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet: Metabolic and Molecular Mechanisms (2018) · cites this paper as [42]

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Authors
Theuwissen, E., & Mensink, R. P.
Affiliations
Maastricht University (NL)
Corresponding author
Theuwissen, Elke
ORCID
Mensink, Ronald P.
Venue
Physiology & Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-05
Volume
94
Issue
2
Pages
285-292
ISSN
0031-9384 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.01.001
OpenAlex
W2043551520
Cited by
488
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 22
FWCI
2.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Physiology & Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Food composition and properties
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
Keywords
soluble dietary fiber, cardiovascular disease, LDL cholesterol, β-glucan, psyllium, pectin, guar gum, bile acid reabsorption, hepatic cholesterol synthesis, dietary fiber intake, dietary recommendations
MeSH terms
Animals, Anticholesteremic Agents, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diet, Diet Surveys, Dietary Fiber, Fatty Acids, Galactans, Humans, Liver, Mannans, Pectins, Psyllium, beta-Glucans, Lipogenesis, Lipid Metabolism, Plant Gums

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