Psyllium, or Plantago ovata, is the primary component of laxatives and dietary fiber supplements. According to Purdue University's College of Agriculture, psyllium is grown in India, Pakistan and the former Soviet republics. Seeds picked from psyllium shrubs are shelled and their husks turned into the main ingredient of fiber treatments, including Metamucil, Genfiber and Fiberall.
Relief of Digestive Distress
The National Institutes of Health writes that psyllium is a bulk laxative. The use of psyllium-based dietary fibers builds the overall size and weight of bowel movements, relieving constipation. It also softens stool, reducing pain and pressure related to producing a bowel movement and alleviating hemmorrhoidal pain. This also helps to solidify watery stools which accompany diarrhea. The Mayo Clinic reports that it can also assist in maintaining colon health. High fiber diets are linked to improved bowel conditions and prevent diverticulitis. Diverticuli are small pockets that form along the intestinal wall, trapping solid waste intended for excretion.
Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a set of symptoms affecting the lower intestine. Symptoms include cramping, bloating and abdominal pain, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. "The British Medical Journal" published results of a Dutch study that examined psyllium's impact on IBS. Participants were asked to rate the severity of pain and other symptoms, including how the disorder affected day-to-day activities. Symptoms were reduced by 90 points on the severity scale among those in the psyllium group, as opposed to 58 points in those taking a placebo.
Reduced Cholesterol
Scientists at the University of Kentucky and VA Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, conducted a meta-analysis of eight different cholesterol drug trials conducted across the country. Their research included 384 test subjects taking psyllium over various periods of time, resulting in average reductions of total cholesterol by 4 percent and low-density lipoprotein by 7 percent.
A 2004 study published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine" examined 118 people over a 16-week period. Study participants saw an average decrease of 5.8 percent in total cholesterol and 7.2 percent in LDL levels. Overall, 39 percent of participants saw an improvement in their LDL classification.
Decreased Blood Sugar
Mayo Clinic research shows that bulk fiber laxatives slow the absorption of sugar, improving blood sugar. In one of the largest trials testing this subject, Iranian scientists measured the fasting glucose levels of 49 patients with type II diabetes over an eight-week span. The report showed that psyllium was well tolerated and improved glycemic control, reducing both the fasting blood sugar and A1c levels.
References
- Alternative Field Crops Manual: Psyllium
- Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition": Cholesterol-lowering effects of psyllium intake...
- Annals of Internal Medicine: Efficacy of Psyllium in Reducing Serum Cholesterol Levels...
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology": Psyllium decreased serum glucose...
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