Inulin-Enriched Low Fat Milk Improved Lipid Profile in Indonesian Hypercholesterolemic Adults

Hypercholesterolemia is known as the major risk factor contributing to cardiovascular disease and the prevalence is relatively high in Indonesia. Inulin is one of the soluble fiber with promising effect to improve lipid profile. However, the effects of inulin-enriched products have not yet been confirmed in Indonesian hypercholesterolemic population. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of inulin-enriched low fat milk to the lipid profile of Indonesian hypercholesterolemic adults. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty- three subjects were given instruction to drink low fat milk with total inulin of 6g/day for 6 weeks. Body composition and lipid profiles were measured before and after intervention. RESULTS: 6 weeks of inulin- enriched low fat milk administration resulted in a significant decrease of total cholesterol (TC, -11 mg/dl, p<0.05), low-density lipoprotein (LDL, -10.5 mg/dl, p<0.05), high-density lipoprotein (HDL, -2.21 mg/dl, p<0.05), and significant increase of skeletal muscle mass (SMM, 200g, p=0.008). Reduction in TC and LDL were found to be moderately positively correlated with its baseline (r= 0.582, r=0.491, p<0.05, consecutively). CONCLUSION: Inulin-enriched low fat milk effectively improved lipid profile and increased SMM in Indonesian hypercholesterolemic subjects. The degree of reduction was found to be moderately positively correlated with the baseline of TC and LDL.