Could dyslipidemic children benefit from glucomannan intake?

Objective: Primary dyslipidemias are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and should be addressed early in life. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in children affected by primary hypercholesterolemia, the efficacy and tolerability of a short-term treatment with a dietary supplement containing glucomannan. Methods: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial was conducted in 36children (aged 6-15 years) affected by primary hypercholesterolemia. After a 4-week run-in period with dietary counseling, children received glucomannan or placebo twice-daily for 8 weeks, separated by a 4-week washout period. Lipid profile was assessed at baseline and after each treatment period. Results: Glucomannan significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) by 5.1% (p = 0.008), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by 7.3% (p = 0.008) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 7.2% (p = 0.002) as compared with placebo. No significant differences were observ...