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Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose lowers cholesterol in statin-treated men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 1001–1007 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Consumption of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), a viscous dietary fiber, lowers total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). However, HPMC had not previously been studied in individuals receiving lipid drug therapy.

Subjects/Methods:

This randomized, double-blind crossover trial examined the lipid effects of HPMC in subjects with hypercholesterolemia on statin therapy. Men (n=5) and women (n=8) with LDL-C⩾2.59 mmol/l after at least 4 weeks of stable-dose statin therapy, and a mean age of 58.6 years, were enrolled. Subjects received twice daily doses of either 2.5 g HPMC or control, delivered in a lemonade beverage for 4 weeks, then crossed over to receive the opposite treatment for an additional 4 weeks.

Results:

Mean baseline concentrations of TC, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), LDL-C, HDL-C, triglyceride (TG), TC/HDL-C ratio and apolipoprotein (Apo) B were 4.95, 3.63, 3.03, 1.33, 1.30 and 3.89 mmol/l and 1.00 g/l, respectively. HPMC consumption resulted in significantly larger reductions (P<0.01 vs control for all) in TC (−10.9 vs −3.5%), non-HDL-C (−12.8 vs −2.9%), LDL-C (−15.7 vs −5.1%), TC/HDL-C ratio (−5.3 vs +1.3%) and Apo B (−8.7 vs −3.9%). There were no differences between treatments for changes in HDL-C (−5.2 vs −4.3%) or TG (+3.9 vs +8.9%).

Conclusions:

These results support the view that HPMC is an effective adjunct to statin therapy for further lowering atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins in men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the assistance of Vicki Deyarmond at The Dow Chemical Company for assistance with study product distribution, as well as Franz Jones and Deborah C Herther for assistance with data collection. This study was sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI, USA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Provident Clinical Research and Consulting Inc., Bloomington, IN, USA

    K C Maki, V Kaden & M R Dicklin

  2. Provident Clinical Research and Consulting Inc., Glen Ellyn, IL, USA

    K C Maki & M S Reeves

  3. The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI, USA

    M L Carson, M P Miller, W H K Anderson & M Turowski

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  1. K C Maki
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Correspondence to K C Maki.

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Maki, K., Carson, M., Miller, M. et al. Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose lowers cholesterol in statin-treated men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 1001–1007 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2009.9

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