Supplements · Metabolic & Cardiometabolic
Does psyllium fibre lower "bad" cholesterol?
The claim, precisely: psyllium decreases LDL cholesterol
Strong support Supplements
RefutedContestedStrong support
consensus score 1.00
Yes — well-established across many trials, and gentle on sensitive guts.
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
MechanismIn-vitroAnimalObservationalRCTMeta-analysis
How the studies fall
5 support 0 contradict 0 tested null 0 mixed · 4 sources, 4 independent groups
What the evidence shows
Psyllium lowers LDL, non-HDL and ApoB (~10 g/d), with FDA-claim precedent in baked/cereal matrices — and it is low-FODMAP / IBS-friendly.
The evidence (5)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wei 2009 · Eur J Clin Nutr | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | [FT-verified] Wei2009 21RCTs n=1717 LDL -0.278 mmol/L; significant dose-response 3-20g/d |
| Jovanovski E, et al. 2018 · Am J Clin Nutr | meta-analysis | supports | high | [FT-verified] Jovanovski2018 28RCTs n=1924 LDL MD -0.33 mmol/L (CI -0.38,-0.27); apoB -0.05; GRADE mod-high |
| Jovanovski E, et al. 2018 · Am J Clin Nutr | meta-analysis | supports | high | Significant reduction in LDL, non-HDL, ApoB at ~10 g/d |
| Schoeneck 2021 2021 · Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis | meta-analysis | supports | high | Umbrella review: viscous fibers incl psyllium consistently lower LDL-C with strongest evidence |
| Juhasz 2023 · Am J Clin Nutr | meta-analysis | supports | high | Network MA in T2D: soluble fibers incl psyllium reduce LDL/lipids |
Educational only, not medical advice. Grades and scores reflect published evidence weighted by study design and quality; see the methodology.