Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose significantly lowers blood cholesterol in mildly hypercholesterolemic human subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To determine the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) in mildly hypercholesterolemic humans.

Subjects:

Trial one: entry mean (range) total serum cholesterol values of eight female and four male subjects were 6.48 (5.57–7.51) mmol l⁻¹ (250 (215–290) mg dl⁻¹) and 6.60 (5.57–7.64) mmol l⁻¹ (255 (215–295) mg dl⁻¹), respectively. Trial two: corresponding values for 20 women and 20 men were 5.96 (5.43–6.48) mmol l⁻¹ 230 (210–250) mg dl⁻¹) and 6.05 (5.46–6.63) mmol l⁻¹ 233 (211–256) mg dl⁻¹), respectively.

Results:

Trial one: HPMC decreased (P⩽0.05) total and LDL-cholesterol 9.3 and 15.3% (medium), 16.9 and 23.5% (high) and 13.8 and 19.4% (ultra-high), respectively, over placebo. Trial two: total and LDL-cholesterol decreased (P⩽0.05) throughout the 8 weeks, with mean (weeks 4–8) reductions of 7 and 8% at 5 g day⁻¹, and 12 and 15% at 15 g day⁻¹, respectively, over placebo. Adverse effects were minimal. Trial one: medium, high and ultra-high viscosity HPMC at 15 g day⁻¹ for 1 week each;1-week wash-out between treatments. Trial two: ultra-high viscosity HPMC at 5 or 15 g day⁻¹ for 8 weeks.

Conclusions:

HPMC soluble fiber, especially high-viscosity grades, significantly lowers cholesterol at well-tolerated doses, showing promise as a treatment of hypercholesterolemia.