Should You Use Psyllium Powder?

Diets low in fiber, decreased activity levels and hurried lifestyles are some of the factors that cause constipation. Sometimes simply increasing the fiber in your diet will solve the problem, while other times a fiber supplement like psyllium powder can solve the problem. There is also strong scientific evidence for the use of psyllium to lower cholesterol, and good evidence that psyllium can treat of some form of diarrhea, according to MedlinePlus, which is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Background

Psyllium, available in powder, wafer, capsules and granules, is a bulk-forming laxative made from the seed husks of the Platago ovata plant. Also known as ispaghula, psyllium is rich in soluble dietary fiber. For the treatment of constipation, psyllium works by increasing the absorption of water into the intestines, giving the stool the bulk it requires to pass easily from your body. In the treatment of high cholesterol, psyllium has proven to lower both total serum cholesterol and LDL, or "bad" cholesterol levels, though it has little to no effect on levels of HDL, the "good" cholesterol.

Benefits

Originally, psyllium was used mainly in the treatment of constipation. In more recent years, after scientific research proved the moderate efficacy of psyllium to lower cholesterol, it is also recommended for its heart-healthy properties, explains MedlinePlus. A study in the Aug. 23, 2010 edition of the "British Journal of Nutrition" concluded that psyllium, along with a healthy diet high in fiber, demonstrated an improvement in the risk factors for metabolic syndrome.

Expert Insight

The "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" published the results of a study about the cholesterol-lowering effects of psyllium that concluded that psyllium contributed to a significant lowering of both total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in men and women who were diagnosed with high cholesterol.

Considerations

Psyllium may be taken with or without food, but if you experience stomach upset, take it with food, advises Aurora Health Care. Psyllium powder is available in many forms. Unless your health care provider specifies a certain product or form to take, you may choose from capsules, wafers, granules or powder. Check the product label to determine how much of the product you will need to take to meet the amount recommended by your physician.

No matter which form of psyllium you choose, take it with a full glass of water. If you choose the capsule form of the product, do not open the capsules, but swallow them whole. Wafers, if chosen, must be chewed thoroughly and followed by drinking a full glass of water. MedlinePlus advises caution to those who mix psyllium powder; avoid accidentally inhaling it to make sure you do not have an allergic reaction.

Warnings

Consult your health care provider before beginning self-treatment with psyllium powder and do not take it if you are allergic to psyllium. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to psyllium powder may include severe nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; the presence of a rash; or signs of an anaphylactic reaction which include difficulty breathing, blue skin color, wheezing, itching, tightness in chest, swelling of face, lips or tongue, according to Aurora Health Care. Stop taking the product and contact your health care provider immediately if these symptoms are present.

Do not use psyllium powder for more than seven days without the advice of a physician, and tell you health care provider if you are pregnant or nursing.