Intervention With Lupin Kernel Fibre in Hypercholesterolemic Subjects

Dietary fibre is suspected to effect the faecal concentration and excretion of bile acids by binding the bile acids and by increasing the faecal mass. Bile acids, especially the secondary bile acids, are potential risk factors for colorectal cancer. A high bile acid-binding ability of fibre could lead to lower blood cholesterol concentrations by interrupting the enterohepatic circulation. There is evidence that the consumption of lupin kernel fibre, containing both soluble and insoluble fibre fractions, may beneficially modify bowel health.

A total of 133 subjects were recruited for this study. Sixty moderate hypercholesterolemic volunteers (total cholesterol > 5.2 mmol/L) fulfilled the selection criteria and were randomly assigned three groups. Forty-five subjects (mean age of 47 years, 34 women and 20 men) completed the double-blind, randomized crossover trial.

The subjects consumed a high-fibre diet containing 25 g fibre (citrus- or lupin fibre) per day and a low-fibre diet (placebo) for four weeks each. After baseline, each volunteer had to pass all three periods in different order with a two-week wash-out period between each.

At the end of each intervention period, subjects consumed a standardized diet for three days. Furthermore, a quantitative stool collection took place and fasting blood samples were drawn.