IMPORTANCE OF PLANTAGO OVATA SEED HUSK (PSYLLIUM HUSK) IN THE PREVENTION AND NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA, POSTPRANDIAL HYPERGLYCEMIA AND HYPERTENSION

A healthy diet, based on fiber-rich plant foods, has been recognized as the cornerstone of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in all individuals, regardless of risk group. Unfortunately, the results of observational studies indicate that adherence to a healthy lifestyle remains low. It appears that a certain alternative in the care of patients at risk of or with CVD may be to enrich the diet with a fiber-based plant product such as Plantago ovata husk (P. ovata husk). The results of clinical trials show the therapeutic efficacy of P. ovata husk in CVD, following the reduction of: cholesterol levels, postprandial glycemia, blood pressure values and body weight. Moreover, it has been reported that P. ovata has a synergistic effect with the action of statins in reducing cholesterol. It has also been shown that the effectiveness of P. ovata husk in normalizing glycemia is comparable to that of metformin. This indicates the potential of psyllium husk in both primary prevention, a first-line strategy for treating CVD risk factors, as well as in secondary prevention. This article presents the evidence available in literature on the therapeutic potential and possible mechanisms of action of psyllium in the treatment of selected CVD.