Leptox

Intervention · INT-PSYLLIUM

Psyllium / soluble fiber

Psyllium has plausible satiety and metabolic effects, but pooled weight estimates vary substantially with trial selection, population, and intervention design.

Dietary intervention and supplement ingredientViscous, gel-forming soluble fiberLow to moderate evidence

Evidence question

Does psyllium produce a reliable weight-loss effect?

Result / effect

A 2020 meta-analysis of 22 trials found no significant reduction in body weight, BMI, or waist circumference; a narrower 2023 synthesis reported modest reductions in overweight and obese populations.

Evidence chain

Population

Adults across randomized supplementation trials; some analyses focus specifically on people with overweight or obesity.

Endpoint

Body weight, BMI, and waist circumference.

Evidence level

Low to moderate. The evidence direction changes with inclusion criteria, making a universal weight-loss estimate inappropriate.

What this record does not establish

  • Pooled results are sensitive to which trials and populations are included.
  • Fiber type and product formulation are not interchangeable.
  • Weight is only one of several clinically relevant endpoints for soluble fiber.

Linked study records

This seed record currently synthesizes linked review evidence; no standalone landmark-study record is included in v0.1.

Sources