Cholesterol-lowering properties pectin

Laboratories have consistently reported that neither purified cellulose nor wheat bran have significant cholesterol-lowering effects ( ). From these observations we conclude that the water-insoluble types of polysaccharides have minimal cholesterol-lowering effects. In sharp contrast, purified water-soluble fibers such as pectin and guar have distinct hypocholesterolemlc effects. The cholesterol-lowering properties of water-soluble fibers are shared by fibers from quite diverse sources. Pectins are cell wall constituent of many plants and usually are extracted from citrus products. Oat gum is a gum extracted from oat bran while guar Is a storage polysaccharide extracted from the Indian cluster bean. 

Brouns F, Theuwissen E, Adam A, Bell M, Berger A, Mensink RP. Cholesterol-lowering properties of different pectin types in mildly hyper-cholesterolemic men and women. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012 66(5) 591-599. 

Judd and Truswell (19) observed no difference in lipid response between the high and low methoxyl pectin and suggested that the ability of pectin to lower cholesterol lies in its gelling properties. Binding of bile acids or cholesterol to pectin has been reported in animal studies (10) and may reduce available cholesterol and lipids for absorption. 

It is often difficult to manage hyperlipidemia in FHC with standard dietary management. Specific fibers in appropriate amounts exert a pronounced hypolipidemic effect in man and animals. Pectin and Guar have been especially effective in lowering cholesterol in normal and hyperlipidemic patients.10-H However, not all fibers are effective in iowering lipids. No two sources of dietary fiber have the same effect on lipid metabolism. 2 Some dietary fibers, although effective as hypolipidemic agents, are not palatable or are difficult to incorporate into food because of increased viscosity or other chemical or taste properties. 

Dietary pectin affects lipid metabolism, especially that of cholesterol. One of the explanations proposed to explain an action of pectin on cholesterol metabolism is through its ability to bind bile acids and bile salts. However, pectin also has the property of forming a gel in water. This gel lowers the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and thereby decreases liver cholesterol. Recently, evidence has been obtained that the presence of pectin in a cholesterol diet increases the excretion of cholesterol esters. Results from the administration of cholesterol-4-l C in the diet showed that the presence of pectin slows gastric emptying and results in more labeled cholesterol as well as cholesterol esters in all segments of the gut. 

Dietary fiber may influence lipidemia and atherosclerosis. Substances designated as insoluble fibers (wheat bran, for instance) possess laxative properties but have little effect on serum lipid levels. Soluble fibers (gel-forming fibers such as pectin or guar gum) influence lipidemia and glycemia. Oat bran, which contains /3-glucans, which are soluble fibers, will lower cholesterol levels despite its designation. 

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