Bios Life 2[R] (fiber/nutrient supplement). (Nutraceuticals Research).

Nutraceutical: Bios Life 2 (r) (fiber/nutrient supplement)

Indication: Cholesterol and homocysteine reduction

Source: J Metab September 2002;571(9):1166-70

Research: The study 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. Additionally, 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 1 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.

Results: The group receiving Bios Life 2 had a significant reduction in LDL cholesterol levels averaging 8%, while LDL increased an average of 2% for the participants that received the placebo over the eight-week period, for a 10% difference between the groups. Similarly, total cholesterol levels for the Bios Life 2 group was significantly reduced by an average of 6%, while total cholesterol levels for the participants receiving the placebo rose an average of 3%. A significant reduction in blood homocysteine levels in the Bios Life 2 group was also observed. Homocysteine levels were found to drop significantly--an average of 11%--among the Bios Life 2 group, while those in the placebo group dropped an insignificant 2%.