Lack of effect of a purified bran preparation in men with low HDL cholesterol.

In 21 men who had been on a lipid-lowering diet for several years, the serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels had become normal on that treatment. In spite of this they all had low levels of cholesterol in the high density lipoproteins (HDL). In an effort to normalize this they were given a purified concentrated bran product (FiberformR, 3.5 g) three times daily for 6 weeks. The cross-over study was double-blind, placebo-controlled, and with a wash-out period between the treatment periods. There were no statistically significant changes in body weight, serum triglycerides and cholesterol or HDL triglycerides and cholesterol in association with the bran treatment. It is concluded that wheat bran in moderately large doses that are convenient to take does not offer a therapeutic alternative for increasing subnormal HDL cholesterol levels in normocholesterolaemic men.