Cyclodextrin shows ‘modest’ cholesterol lowering effects: NIH study

By Stephen Daniells

- Last updated on GMT

© iStock / marekuliasz
© iStock / marekuliasz

Related tags Nutrition

Alpha-cyclodextrin may reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol levels by 10% in healthy individuals, compared to placebo, says a new study from scientists from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the US National Institutes of Health.

A daily 6 gram dose of alpha-cyclodextrin (α-CD) for 12 to 14 weeks was also associated with significant reductions in fasting blood sugar levels and insulin resistance index in 75 healthy men and women, according to findings published in Lipids in Health and Disease​.

“[W]e investigated the effect of α-CD supplementation on plasma lipid and glucose-related parameters in a relatively healthy population. In contrast, most of the other prior studies on α-CD were done on overweight patients or on patients with diabetes and or obesity. Although it was reasonably well tolerated and appeared to be safe, α-CD in this study only had minor beneficial effects on serum lipids and glucose, with unknown clinical significance,” ​wrote the researchers.

α-CD and heart health

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death and ill health in developed countries, with diet and lifestyle key modifiable approaches to reducing the risk of developing CVD.

The NIH researchers chose to look at α-CD, a soluble fiber derived from corn, because it may potentially reduce blood lipid – or cholesterol – levels. It does this by forming a donut-shaped structure that has a lipid-attracting cavity in the middle, which attracts and ‘traps’ cholesterol and other lipids within it.

The potential lipid-lowering effects of α-CD have been reported in animals and in obese humans with type 2 diabetes, but data from healthy humans is limited.

The researchers randomly assigned 75 healthy adults aged between 18 and 75 to receive either 6 grams of α-CD orally per day or placebo for 12-14 weeks. The α-CD was manufactured by Wacker Biochem.

heart_health_diseases
© iStock

Results showed that α-CD intake was associated with a 10% reduction in small-LDL cholesterol levels, compared with placebo. Small, dense LDL particles are reported to increase the risk of heart disease​.  

“Because the subjects in the current study had a relatively normal lipid and lipoprotein profile at baseline, were younger (mean age of 34 years) than the previous studies and had a mean BMI of 25 kg/m2, this may have limited the effect from the α-CD treatment,” ​wrote the researchers. “Overall, these results suggest that α-CD may be more effective in lipid lowering in a more dyslipidemic and obese population, but this will have to be more definitively established in larger clinical trials.”

The researchers also found that α-CD decreased fasting plasma glucose levels by an average of 1.6%, and the insulin resistance index by an average of 11%, compared with placebo.

In addition, the α-CD supplements were well tolerated and no serious adverse events were reported.

“The original rationale for why α-CD supplementation may lower serum lipids is that it would interfere with cholesterol or triglyceride absorption like what has been described for other soluble fibers,” ​wrote the researchers. “Recently, it has been recognized that α-CD can be hydrolyzed and fermented by gut bacteria and hence can be considered a pre-biotic. Supplementation with α-CD could, therefore, possibly change the composition of the gut flora in favorably ways that could improve lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity.”

Source: Lipids in Health and Disease
2016, 15​:115, doi: 10.1186/s12944-016-0284-6
“Randomized double blind clinical trial on the effect of oral α-cyclodextrin on serum lipids”
Authors: M.J.A. Amar, et al. 

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