Plantago ovata seed and husk
January 20 2016

Effects of soluble fiber (Plantago ovata husk) on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins in men with ischemic heart disease. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007

From the Unitat de Recerca de Lípids i Arteriosclerosi, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, IRCIS, Reus, Spain (RS, GG, JR, J-CV, JG, JS, and LM); Research Department Madaus SA, Barcelona, Spain (AA); Unite d'Expression des Genes Eucaryotes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (MAO); the Laboratorio de Biología Molecular. Hospital Miguel Servet-I+CS, Spain (DR); the Department of Vascular Biochemistry, Queen Elizabeth Building, Glasgow Royal Infirmary University NHS Trust, Glasgow, United Kingdom (MC); Servei d'Atenciķ Primāria Reus-Altebrat, Institut Catalā de la Salut, Reus, Spain (FM-L); Unitat de Nutriciķ Humana, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, IRCIS, Reus, Spain (JS-S)

New dietary strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease risk include the addition of fiber to the diet. The effect of soluble-fiber consumption derived from Plantago ovata husk on lipid risk factors in patients with cardiovascular disease is tested. We compared the effects of soluble fiber (Plantago ovata husk) with those of insoluble fiber (Plantago ovata seeds) on plasma lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein (apo) concentrations within a cardiovascular disease secondary prevention program.  In a randomized, crossover, controlled, single-blind design, 28 men with cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction or stable angina) and an LDL-cholesterol concentration ?3 mmol/L consumed for 8 wk, under controlled conditions, a low-saturated-fat diet supplemented with 10.5 g Plantago ovata husk/d or 10.5 g Plantago ovata seeds /d. Fasting plasma lipid concentrations and polymorphisms of genes involved in lipid metabolism, such as apo A-IV, apo E, and fatty acid–binding protein, were measured. Results: Plasma triacylglycerol decreased (6.7%), the ratio of apo B 100 to apo A-I decreased (4.7%), and apo A-I increased (4.3%) in the Plantago ovata husk consumers. Compared with the intake of insoluble fiber, the intake of Plantago ovata husk increased HDL-cholesterol concentrations by 6.7% and decreased the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol and of LDL to HDL cholesterol by 10% and 14%, respectively. Conclusion: In the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, Plantago ovata husk intake induces a more beneficial effect on the cardiovascular lipid risk-factor profile than does an equivalent intake of insoluble fiber.

Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2012. Drug interactions with the dietary fiber Plantago ovata husk. Plantago ovata husk is a viscous water-soluble fiber obtained by milling the seed of Plantago ovata. The increased use of this compound for the treatment of diseases makes it necessary to know of its potential drug interactions. The present paper reviews the literature concerning interactions between drugs and the dietary fiber Plantago ovata husk. All publications which might describe interactions between the dietetic fiber Plantago ovata husk and other drugs were identified by searches using databases such as MEDLINE or EMBASE. Drug interactions have been the subject of numerous studies, but few of them have been carried out with dietary fiber and the results obtained have often been variable. The incidence and importance of interactions between fiber and drugs has increased due to a worldwide rise in the use of dietary fiber. Plantago ovata husk has the potential for producing both benefits and risks with both desirable and undesirable effects when coadministered with drugs. More clinical studies are justifiably needed to improve treatments and to better evaluate patient safety.

Parkinson's disease, use of the husk
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014. A randomised clinical trial to evaluate the effects of Plantago ovata husk in Parkinson patients: changes in levodopa pharmacokinetics and biochemical parameters. Plantago ovata husk therapy could be used in patients with Parkinson disease to reduce the symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders, but it is important to know whether this compound modifies levodopa pharmacokinetics. The maintenance of constant plasma concentrations of levodopa abolishes the clinical fluctuations in parkinsonian patients. The aim of this randomised clinical trial was to establish the influence of the fiber Plantago ovata husk in the pharmacokinetics of levodopa when administered to Parkinson patients well controlled by their oral medication. Plantago ovata husk administration caused a smoothing and homogenization of levodopa absorption, providing more stable concentrations and final higher levels, resulting in a great benefit for patients.