Soluble-fiber breakfast cereals were examined for their cholesterol-lowering 
ability in 58 male patients with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia in a 
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients followed a step 1 
diet for a minimum of 6 wk, then were randomly assigned to groups incorporating 
either corn flakes or one of two soluble-fiber cereals (pectin enriched or 
psyllium enriched) in the diet for an additional 6 wk. During the diet-only 
phase, total cholesterol dropped 3.8%. During the cereal-plus-diet phase, total 
and LDL cholesterol values of the pectin-enriched cereal group dropped an 
additional 2.1% (P = 0.243) and 3.9% (P = 0.16), respectively, and they dropped 
5.9% (P = 0.005) and 5.7% (P = 0.034), respectively, in the psyllium-enriched 
cereal group. During the cereal-plus-diet phase, no significant effects on HDL 
cholesterol, triglyceride, or body weight were found within or between any 
cereal groups. These results support use of soluble-fiber cereals as an 
effective and well-tolerated part of a prudent diet in the treatment of mild to 
moderate hypercholesterolemia.