THE EFFECT OF DIETARY FIBRE ON HUMAN LIPID METABOLISM
type: CreativeWork
description: Soluble fibre has been shown to lower serum cholesterol under experimental conditions. To date no survey has shown a relationship between soluble fibre and serum cholesterol. A survey was designed to establish if any relationship existed between the habitual intake of soluble fibre and serum cholesterol in 96 Saskatoon residents. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that soluble fibre was inversely related and responsible for 10% of the variation in serum total cholesterol (TC). TC, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), VLDL-cholesterol (VLDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were directly related to Age, and HDL-C was inversely related to Age. Body Mass Index (BMI) was inversely related to HDL-C and directly related to VLDL-C and TG. The cholesterol lowering effect of soluble fibre may be mediated through propionate, a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) normally produced from the fermentation in the colon. Propionyl-CoA may compete with acetyl-CoA for binding sites on HMG-CoA synthase. Changes in serum glucagon have been reported when SCFA are infused rectally, and propionate is known to have a high affinity for carnitine. Increased glucagon secretion (which may inhibit cholesterol synthesis) has been reported as a response to decreased hepatic carnitine (CN) levels. To research one of possible mechanisms responsible for the cholesterol lowering of soluble fibre, a study was designed to determine if the SCFA propionate lowers serum cholesterol in human subjects, if acetate modifies the response, and to explore the mechanisms by which propionate, carnitine and glucagon interact. The study was carried out using 9 healthy male volunteers (initial TC > 5.5 mmol/L), who where fed a controlled low CN diet ( < 200 µmol/d) for 45 days (d). For 15-day periods subjects were on control (CTRL) or given by mouth 75 mmol propionate (PR) or 75 mmol propionate + 180 mmol acetate (PR+ACET). Treatment order was randomized. Faecal samples were collected throughout the study, and radiopaque faecal mark…
abstract: Soluble fibre has been shown to lower serum cholesterol under experimental conditions. To date no survey has shown a relationship between soluble fibre and serum cholesterol. A survey was designed to establish if any relationship existed between the habitual intake of soluble fibre and serum cholesterol in 96 Saskatoon residents. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that soluble fibre was inversely related and responsible for 10% of the variation in serum total cholesterol (TC). TC, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), VLDL-cholesterol (VLDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were directly related to Age, and HDL-C was inversely related to Age. Body Mass Index (BMI) was inversely related to HDL-C and directly related to VLDL-C and TG. The cholesterol lowering effect of soluble fibre may be mediated through propionate, a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) normally produced from the fermentation in the colon. Propionyl-CoA may compete with acetyl-CoA for binding sites on HMG-CoA synthase. Changes in serum glucagon have been reported when SCFA are infused rectally, and propionate is known to have a high affinity for carnitine. Increased glucagon secretion (which may inhibit cholesterol synthesis) has been reported as a response to decreased hepatic carnitine (CN) levels. To research one of possible mechanisms responsible for the cholesterol lowering of soluble fibre, a study was designed to determine if the SCFA propionate lowers serum cholesterol in human subjects, if acetate modifies the response, and to explore the mechanisms by which propionate, carnitine and glucagon interact. The study was carried out using 9 healthy male volunteers (initial TC > 5.5 mmol/L), who where fed a controlled low CN diet ( < 200 µmol/d) for 45 days (d). For 15-day periods subjects were on control (CTRL) or given by mouth 75 mmol propionate (PR) or 75 mmol propionate + 180 mmol acetate (PR+ACET). Treatment order was randomized. Faecal samples were collected throughout the study, and radiopaque faecal mark…
author: Kent-Smith do Amaral, Maria Luiza
date published: 1995
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:27:01Z
provider: University of Saskatchewan
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Saskatchewan

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10388/15342