Roll Call

“Psyllium fiber?”Here!Psyllium husk

Plant

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As a supplement

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Roll Call does not check drug interactions or assess personal safety.

Psyllium fiber comes from the husk of the Plantago ovata plant seed. It is a soluble, gel-forming fiber that swells with water and is used both as a food ingredient and a fiber supplement.

Why it’s used

Taken to add bulk and soften stool for regularity, and taken by some with interest in supporting cholesterol levels already within a healthy range.

What the evidence is for

increasing stool frequency in constipation and modestly lowering LDL cholesterol.

What the evidence says

Psyllium has a long history of clinical study, and the FDA recognizes an authorized health claim linking psyllium soluble fiber intake to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease when included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Effects on cholesterol are generally modest.

Dose studied

5–10 g — daily soluble fiber doses studied for bowel regularity and cholesterol.

Context

The FDA's health claim is based on studies using about 7 g per day of soluble fiber from psyllium; constipation trials have generally used similar amounts, often in the range of about 5 to 10 g per day taken with adequate fluid.

Rumors

  1. Increasing stool frequency in constipation and modestly lowering LDL cholesterol.

    Sources cited — check not cleared.

    Measured as a biomarker.