The American journal of clinical nutrition
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Method of administration influences the serum cholesterol-lowering effect of psyllium.
To determine whether psyllium must be mixed with food to lower serum cholesterol, 18 modestly hypercholesterolemic subjects were studied for three 2-wk periods, in random order, separated by a 2-wk return to a National Cholesterol Education Program Step 2 diet. Compared with values for subjects consuming control wheat-bran cereal (63 g/d), after 2 wk of 54 g psyllium-enriched cereal/d containing 7.3 g psyllium, serum total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, respectively, were reduced by 8% (6.15 +/- 0.15 vs 6.71 +/- 0.19 mmol/L, P < 0.01), 11% (4.24 +/- 0.15 vs 4.78 +/- 0.19 mmol/L, P < 0.02), and 7% (0.99 +/- 0.05 vs 1.07 +/- 0.05 mmol/L, P < 0.01). When 7.6 g of the same type of psyllium as in the test cereal was taken between meals, serum total (6.50 +/- 0.19 mmol/L), LDL (4.50 +/- 0.21 mmol/L), and HDL (1.06 +/- 0.06 mmol/L) cholesterol were no different from control values, and total cholesterol was greater than after psyllium cereal (P < 0.05). We conclude that psyllium must be mixed with foods to have the maximum effect on serum cholesterol.
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A population-based study on the nutritional status of children consuming macrobiotic diets was carried out in The Netherlands. Participants followed a macrobiotic diet based mainly on whole-grain cereals, pulses, and vegetables. Studies in children aged 0-10 y suggested that growth was retarded mainly between 6 and 18 mo. ⋯ Ubiquitous deficiencies of energy, protein, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, calcium, and riboflavin were detected in macrobiotic infants, leading to retarded growth, fat and muscle wasting, and slower psychomotor development. Breast milk from macrobiotic mothers contained less vitamin B-12, calcium, and magnesium. Supplementation of the macrobiotic diet with fat (minimum 20-25 g/d), fatty fish (minimum 100-150 g/wk), and dairy products (minimum 150-250 g/d) is recommended.