Plantago ispaghula

Psyllium/Nutrient Depletion

  • CalciumCalcium: In human research, psyllium (Metamucil?) resulted in slightly reduced absorption of calcium, but statistical significance was lacking (65). In human research, psyllium resulted in decreased plasma levels of calcium (66).
  • CholesterolCholesterol: In human research, psyllium decreased total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and the ratio of LDL to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (30; 174; 132; 78; 42; 39; 131; 140; 125; 43; 143; 84; 92; 26; 139; 95; 90; 130; 35; 58; 34; 59; 109; 175). With respect to triglyceride (TG) levels (30; 39; 135; 89; 125; 92; 90; 43; 35; 34) and HDL (30; 174; 132; 39; 89; 125; 92; 90; 43; 130; 29), evidence is mixed, with most studies in support of a lack of effect on TG levels and increased, decreased, or no effects on HDL cholesterol.
  • CopperCopper: In human research, hemicellulose has been shown to increase the excretion and reduce the retention of zinc, copper, and magnesium (64).
  • GlucoseGlucose: In human research, in the presence or absence of other hypoglycemic agents, psyllium decreased plasma glucose and HbA1C (43; 49; 41; 42; 47; 44; 45; 46; 48; 50; 51; 52; 53; 54; 55; 56); however, acute effects were lacking in some available studies (57). Long-term effects of psyllium on glycemic indices were mixed (35; 34; 58; 59; 56).
  • IronIron: In human research, psyllium resulted in slightly reduced plasma levels of iron (66). The effect of dietary fiber on iron absorption in humans has been discussed further (187); however, details are lacking.
  • MagnesiumMagnesium: In human research, hemicellulose has been shown to increase the excretion and reduce the retention of zinc, copper, and magnesium (64).
  • RiboflavinRiboflavin: In human research, psyllium reduced the 24-hour apparent absorption of riboflavin (from 31.8% to 25.4% and 26.1%, p<0.01) (188).
  • Vitamin B12Vitamin B12: In human research, ispaghula husk induced changes in levels of vitamin B12 (67).
  • ZincZinc: In human research, hemicellulose has been shown to increase the excretion and reduce the retention of zinc, copper, and magnesium (64).