Compound library
Understand what people are taking.
Browse medicines, supplements, herbs, and health foods. Each profile brings community reports and linked research into one clear view.
Browse medicines, supplements, herbs, and health foods. Each profile brings community reports and linked research into one clear view.
Soluble, gel-forming fibre from the seed husk of Plantago ovata (ispaghula). Meta-analyses of 28 and 29 randomised trials found it lowers LDL ('bad') cholesterol by about 0.33-0.35 mmol/L, and pooled trials show lower fasting blood sugar and HbA1c, mostly in people who already have type 2 diabetes. Reviews of its effect on body weight disagree.
2 of 5 results reported a benefit, from 2 published studies.
2 studies, including a review of trials
Not counted here: 4 results in these studies are about a different treatment, or about Psyllium Husk combined with another treatment, or not from studies in people. They are still listed below.
These are the figures the studies reported, not a prediction for any one person. Where several studies measured the same thing in the same unit, we show a simple average and say so. Every individual result is listed below.
See every resultBloating, IBS, gut issues, SIBO, leaky gut, and general digestive discomfort.
Also known as: Psyllium, Ispaghula, Plantago ovata
Every published result for this pair, extracted and audited.
These charts group published studies by what they reported and how they were run — green marks studies that reported a benefit for this pairing. Tiers run from pooled analyses of many trials (strongest) to one-off observational reports.
Direction of reported outcomes for Psyllium Husk in digestive health.
Study designs behind these findings.
Hand-selected PubMed studies, linked to the originals.
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Exercise-induced stress behavior, gut-microbiota-brain axis and diet: a systematic review for athletesClark A, et al. · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2016PMID 27924137 ↗02Probiotics for irritable bowel syndrome: A network meta-analysisFord AC et al. · Am J Gastroenterol · 2024PMID 34286461 ↗03Ginger for treating nausea and vomiting: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysesLi Z, et al. · International journal of food sciences and nutrition · 2024PMID 38072785 ↗04Engineered probiotic ameliorates ulcerative colitis by restoring gut microbiota and redox homeostasisGuo P, et al. · Cell host & microbe · 2024PMID 39197456 ↗05[Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) - Therapy, nutrition, microbiome]Be the first to share what you noticed with Psyllium Husk for digestive health. Why counts start empty.
Every measured outcome, one row per finding - numbers exactly as reported.
| Study | Design | n | Duration | Outcome measured | Reported result | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMID 35816465 2022 | Meta-analysis | 1251 | - | Constipation response and stool frequency, psyllium subgroup | reported qualitatively | Benefit |
| PMID 35816465 2022 | Meta-analysis | 1251 | - | Flatulence (all fibre types pooled) | 0.80 SMD (95% CI: 0.47, 1.13; P < 0.00001) | Harm / risk |
| PMID 35816465 2022 | Meta-analysis | 1251 | - | Response rate (all fibre types pooled) | 66% (P = 0.001) | Benefit |
| PMID 35816465 2022 | Meta-analysis | 1251 | - | Stool consistency (all fibre types pooled) | 0.32 SMD (95% CI: 0.18, 0.46; P < 0.0001) | Benefit |
| PMID 35816465 2022 | Meta-analysis | 1251 | - | Stool frequency (all fibre types pooled) | 0.72 SMD (95% CI: 0.36, 1.08; P = 0.0001) | Benefit |
| PMID 30669509 2019 | Randomised trial | 16 | 7 days | Fecal short-chain fatty acid levels (acetate, propionate) | reported qualitatively | Unclear |
| PMID 30669509 2019 | Randomised trial | - | 7 days | Fecal water content | reported qualitatively | Benefit |
| PMID 30669509 2019 | Randomised trial | 16 | 7 days | Microbial composition (constipated patients) | reported qualitatively | Unclear |
| PMID 30669509 2019 | Randomised trial | 8 | 7 days | Microbial composition (healthy adults) | reported qualitatively | Unclear |