Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Early Access
    • Multimedia
    • Podcast
    • Collections
    • Past Issues
    • Articles by Subject
    • Articles by Type
    • Supplements
    • Plain Language Summaries
    • Calls for Papers
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Job Seekers
    • Media
  • About
    • Annals of Family Medicine
    • Editorial Staff & Boards
    • Sponsoring Organizations
    • Copyrights & Permissions
    • Announcements
  • Engage
    • Engage
    • e-Letters (Comments)
    • Subscribe
    • Podcast
    • E-mail Alerts
    • Journal Club
    • RSS
    • Annals Forum (Archive)
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
  • Careers

User menu

  • My alerts

Search

  • Advanced search
Annals of Family Medicine
  • My alerts
Annals of Family Medicine

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Early Access
    • Multimedia
    • Podcast
    • Collections
    • Past Issues
    • Articles by Subject
    • Articles by Type
    • Supplements
    • Plain Language Summaries
    • Calls for Papers
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Job Seekers
    • Media
  • About
    • Annals of Family Medicine
    • Editorial Staff & Boards
    • Sponsoring Organizations
    • Copyrights & Permissions
    • Announcements
  • Engage
    • Engage
    • e-Letters (Comments)
    • Subscribe
    • Podcast
    • E-mail Alerts
    • Journal Club
    • RSS
    • Annals Forum (Archive)
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Follow annalsfm on Twitter
  • Visit annalsfm on Facebook
Research ArticleOriginal Research

Effect of Psyllium Fiber Supplementation on C-Reactive Protein: The Trial to Reduce Inflammatory Markers (TRIM)

Dana E. King, Arch G. Mainous, Brent M. Egan, Robert F. Woolson and Mark E. Geesey
The Annals of Family Medicine March 2008, 6 (2) 100-106; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.819
Dana E. King
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Arch G. Mainous III
PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Brent M. Egan
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Robert F. Woolson
PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Mark E. Geesey
MS
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • eLetters
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

PURPOSE Recent evidence supports a significant association between the intake of dietary fiber and levels of inflammatory markers. The objective of this study was to determine whether daily fiber supplementation would reduce levels of inflammatory markers.

METHODS This study was a prospective randomized controlled trial at a single university medical center. Participants were overweight or obese adults with no history of heart disease. The intervention was psyllium supplementation at either 7 or 14 g/d for 3 months compared with no supplements in a control group. The main outcome measure was change in level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentration; secondary outcomes included changes in interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, fibrinogen levels, and white blood cell (WBC) count. Protocol completers attended at least 2 visits and took more than 75% of the prescribed fiber dose.

RESULTS In this intent-to-treat analysis (n = 158), there were no significant differences between either of the 2 treatment groups and the control group in the amount of change in CRP, fibrinogen, or IL-6 levels or in WBC count (P>.05). In the analysis of protocol completers (n = 132), there also were no significant differences between the groups except for a small decrease in fibrinogen level in the high-fiber group (−6 mg/dL [−0.18 μmol/L] compared with 13 mg/dL [0.38 μmol/L] in the control group, P<.05).

CONCLUSION Psyllium fiber supplementation did not significantly reduce CRP levels in overweight or obese individuals in this trial, and changes in other markers were not consistent. Further research is needed to determine whether other fibers or nutrients can reduce inflammatory markers.

  • Inflammation
  • dietary supplements
  • dietary fiber
  • C-reactive protein
  • psyllium
  • Received for publication May 7, 2007.
  • Revision received September 4, 2007.
  • Accepted for publication October 8, 2007.
  • © 2008 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.
View Full Text
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Annals of Family Medicine: 6 (2)
The Annals of Family Medicine: 6 (2)
Vol. 6, Issue 2
1 Mar 2008
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
  • In Brief
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Annals of Family Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Effect of Psyllium Fiber Supplementation on C-Reactive Protein: The Trial to Reduce Inflammatory Markers (TRIM)
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Annals of Family Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Annals of Family Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
1 + 4 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Effect of Psyllium Fiber Supplementation on C-Reactive Protein: The Trial to Reduce Inflammatory Markers (TRIM)
Dana E. King, Arch G. Mainous, Brent M. Egan, Robert F. Woolson, Mark E. Geesey
The Annals of Family Medicine Mar 2008, 6 (2) 100-106; DOI: 10.1370/afm.819

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Get Permissions
Share
Effect of Psyllium Fiber Supplementation on C-Reactive Protein: The Trial to Reduce Inflammatory Markers (TRIM)
Dana E. King, Arch G. Mainous, Brent M. Egan, Robert F. Woolson, Mark E. Geesey
The Annals of Family Medicine Mar 2008, 6 (2) 100-106; DOI: 10.1370/afm.819
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • INTRODUCTION
    • METHODS
    • RESULTS
    • DISCUSSION
    • Acknowledgments
    • Footnotes
    • REFERENCES
  • Figures & Data
  • eLetters
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Short-chain fatty acids, prebiotics, synbiotics, and systemic inflammation: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  • Association between carbohydrate quality and inflammatory markers: systematic review of observational and interventional studies
  • The Interplay Between Fiber and the Intestinal Microbiome in the Inflammatory Response
  • In This Issue: What Patients Value and How to Provide It
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Teamwork Among Primary Care Staff to Achieve Regular Follow-Up of Chronic Patients
  • Shared Decision Making Among Racially and/or Ethnically Diverse Populations in Primary Care: A Scoping Review of Barriers and Facilitators
  • Convenience or Continuity: When Are Patients Willing to Wait to See Their Own Doctor?
Show more Original Research

Similar Articles

Subjects

  • Domains of illness & health:
    • Disease pathophysiology / etiology
    • Prevention
  • Methods:
    • Quantitative methods

Content

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Early Access
  • Plain-Language Summaries
  • Multimedia
  • Podcast
  • Articles by Type
  • Articles by Subject
  • Supplements
  • Calls for Papers

Info for

  • Authors
  • Reviewers
  • Job Seekers
  • Media

Engage

  • E-mail Alerts
  • e-Letters (Comments)
  • RSS
  • Journal Club
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Subscribe
  • Family Medicine Careers

About

  • About Us
  • Editorial Board & Staff
  • Sponsoring Organizations
  • Copyrights & Permissions
  • Contact Us
  • eLetter/Comments Policy

© 2025 Annals of Family Medicine