Clinical & Scientific Studies
Constipation
The benefits of Psyllium husk fiber in constipation are well-established, and are well-documented in numerous studies.
“….In a study of 149 patients with chronic constipation, the consumption of 15-30 grams daily of psyllium seed preparation provided bowel relief in 85 percent of participants who had no known pathological cause for their constipation….”
Monograph: Plantago ovata (Psyllium)
http://www.altmedrev.com/archive/publications/7/2/155.pdf
“Psyllium seed is an herbal medicinal product with well-established use: 1) for the treatment of habitual constipation; 2) in conditions I which easy defecation with soft stool is desirable, e.g., in case of painful defecation after rectal or anal surgery, anal fissures and hemorrhoids……..The clinical data on ispaghula support the use of psyllium seed as laxative. The use in conditions in which easy defecation with soft stool is desirable is scientifically substantiated.”
European Medicines Agency (Assessment Report)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, caused by deficient intake of dietary fiber. The symptoms include abdominal discomfort and or pain, which area associated with abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. Studies show consuming water-soluble fiber improves overall IBS symptoms.
Not all types of fibers are beneficial to patients with IBS, studies show. Some can worsen symptoms. Psyllium fiber is effective and safe.
“Fiber supplementation, particularly psyllium, is both safe and effective in improving IBS symptoms globally. Dietary fiber also has other health benefits, such as lowering blood cholesterol levels, improving glycemic control and body weight management….”
Psyllium has “documented affects in the management of IBS…Supplementation with this type of dietary fiber should be recommended to patients with all of the IBS types.”……….
Dietary fiber in irritable bowel syndrome (Review)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5548066/pdf/ijmm-40-03-0607.pdf
“We recommend fiber for overall symptom improvement in IBS patients……We recommend psyllium, but not wheat bran, for overall symptom improvement in IBS patients.”
American College of Gastroenterology Monograph on Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Diabetes & Cholesterol
Dietary fiber has demonstrated that it offers other health benefits, such as lowering blood cholesterol levels, improving glycemic control and body weight management.
“Our results show that 5 g t.i.d. of Psyllium is useful, as an adjunct to dietary therapy, in patients with type II diabetes, to reduce plasma lipid and glucose levels, resolving the compliance conflict associated with the ingest of a great amount of fiber in customary diet.”
Lipid- and Glucose-Lowering Efficacy of Plantago Psyllium in Type II Diabetes
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1056872798000038?via=ihubhtt
“Ispaghula husk as an adjunct to diet is effective and well tolerated in the management of appropriate patients with mild-to-moderate primary hypercholesterolaemia.”
Ispaghula husk in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia: a double-blind controlled study.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10201553
“Dietary psyllium supplementation in patients taking 10 mg of simvastatin is as effective in lowering cholesterol as 20 mg of simvastatin alone. Psyllium soluble fiber should be considered as a safe and well-tolerated dietary supplement option to enhance LDL-C and apolipoprotein B lowering.”
Effect of Combining Psyllium Fiber With Simvastatin in Lowering Cholesterol
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/486567