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We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effect of consumption of psyllium-enriched cereal products on blood total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and to estimate the magnitude of the effect among 404 adults with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia (TC of 5.17-7.8 mmol/L) who consumed a low fat diet. Studies of psyllium cereals were identified by a computerized search of MEDLINE and Current Contents and by contacting United States-based food companies involved in psyllium research. Published and unpublished studies were reviewed by one author and considered eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis if they were conducted in humans, were randomized, controlled experiments, and included a control group that ate cereal providing [less than or equal to]3 g soluble fiber/d. Eight published and four unpublished studies, conducted in four countries, met the criteria. Analysis of a linear model was performed, controlling for sex and age. Female subjects were divided into two groups to provide a rough estimate of the effect of menopausal status (premenopausal = KEY WORDS: psyllium; ready-to-eat cereal; blood lipids; humans; meta-analysis

The study revealed that increased intake of carbohydrate rich foods produces a corresponding decrease in energy from fat. The intervention group was required to increase its intake of ready-to-eat cereals weekly by 420 grams, while the control group was given no other instruction but for arrangements to be made for regular assessments of their diet. The results of the study confirmed the theory that energy from intake of carbohydrates such as breakfast cereals would displace the energy the body needs from fat, thereby decreasing its requirements for fat-rich foods.

The aim of the present study was to attempt to replicate and extend a recent result which showed that breakfast cereal consumption was associated with better mental health. The general population sample studied here (262 volunteers aged between 21 and 85 years, mean age: 60.9 years) was older than the sample in the previous study. The results showed that those who consumed breakfast cereal every day reported better mental and physical health than those who consumed it less frequently. This association was still present when demographic factors, indicators of lifestyle, such as smoking, or other aspects of diet were covaried. Further research is now required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this robust association between daily breakfast cereal consumption and well-being., Introduction Recent research (Smith, 1998a) has found an association between regular consumption of breakfast cereal and well-being. The results showed that those who consumed a cereal breakfast each day were [...]