A new study finds that Bios Life 2, a fiber and nutrient drink, lowers both total cholesterol and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels when taken regularly along with a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, according to marketers Unicity Network. Unicity is the international direct selling unit of nutrition company Royal Numico.
The double-blind study also shows that the drink helps to reduce blood homocysteine levels - a well-documented method of lowering the risk of heart disease.
The study, conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Preventative Cardiology Section, by Dr Dennis L. Sprecher, and published in the September 2002 issue of the journal Metabolism, compared fasting blood samples from approximately 100 subjects over an eight-week period. All study participants followed the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Step 1 diet for six weeks prior to beginning the study.
No concurrent lipid-lowering therapy or statin during the previous 30 days was permissible. Those participants who still had LDL cholesterol greater than 130 mg/dL following the six week diet program were included in the study and were required to continue to follow the NCEP Step I diet for the duration of the investigation. Half of the study participants were given twice-daily servings of Bios Life 2 and the other half were given a placebo. Neither the researchers nor the participants were aware of which substance any individual received.
The group receiving Bios Life 2 had a significant reduction in LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels averaging 7.9 per cent, while LDL increased an average of 2.4 per cent for the participants who received the placebo over the eight-week test period, for a 10.3 per cent difference between the groups.
Similarly, total cholesterol level for the Bios Life 2 group was significantly reduced by an average of more than 5 per cent, while total cholesterol levels for the participants receiving the placebo rose an average of 3.1 per cent.
"Taking a fiber supplement is a fairly safe and easy way to help keep your cholesterol under control," Dr Sprecher said.
Dr Sprecher also observed a significant reduction in blood homocysteine levels in the Bios Life 2 group. Homocysteine is an amino acid found in the blood, and high levels of homocysteine have been associated with increased risk of vascular and heart disease. In this study, homocysteine levels were found to drop significantly - an average of around 11 per cent - among the Bios Life 2 group, while those in the placebo group dropped an insignificant 2 per cent.
"Such a product if taken regularly, could reduce cardiovascular risk on a population basis and potentially decreases the need and/or dose for lipid-lowering prescription drugs," the study concluded.
Unicity Network was created when Rexall Showcase International and Enrich International merged. Its parent company, Dutch company Royal Numico, focuses on specialized nutrition, including infant formula, clinical nutrition and nutritional supplements.