Psyllium has long been used as a laxative and has a good safety record, with only a few cases of allergies caused by exposure to psyllium due to production or bulk shipments.
Safety data from 19 clinical trials from abroad show that psyllium is highly tolerable and has no causal relationship with serious adverse reactions. There were also no significant adverse effects reported in clinical trial data, fatal signs, and serum vitamins or trace elements. In a long-term study, subjects with mild to moderate high cholesterol ate a diet supplemented with psyllium for 52 weeks. When levels of vitamins or trace elements were measured as well as some hematological and biochemical parameters, slight but not statistically significant changes were found. However, none of these changes were clinically significant. Experimental records prove that daily consumption ≥20.4g is completely tolerable. Similar safety has been demonstrated in diabetic subjects, with TC and LDL-C being reduced without negative effects on trace elements, vitamins A and E. In Western developed countries, psyllium has been used as an over-the-counter drug on the market for decades and has maintained a good safety record. Safety data on psyllium have been documented by panels from the U.S. FDA, the Special Committee on Generally Recognized Safe Substances, and the American Federation of Experimental Biology's Office of Life Sciences Research.
"Baidu Encyclopedia" mentioned that psyllium is toxic and releases pigments that are toxic to the kidneys. To be clear here, toxic substances refer to pigments in psyllium seeds that are toxic to the kidneys. But there are no harmful substances in psyllium seed husks. The psyllium products currently sold on the market are processed and ground products using the seed husks of psyllium (there are also products that are not processed and ground). Therefore, when taking psyllium seed products, please pay attention to whether the raw materials of the product come from psyllium seed husks, and also pay attention to the purity of psyllium seed husks, which is also an important consideration. At present, the conventional purity of psyllium husk powder is 99, 98, 85, and 75. Among them, psyllium seed husks with a purity of 75 are used as feed and cannot be used for human consumption.
How to take psyllium and precautions:
Children (under 18 years old): Children should get fiber from their diet. Taking psyllium products to children must be under the guidance of a doctor. Typically, doctors recommend that children ages 6 to 12 take half the adult dose of psyllium products. For children between 12 and 18 years old, it is recommended to take 3.4 grams to 16 grams per day. The effectiveness and long-term safety of larger dosages have not been further confirmed.
Adults: It is recommended to take no more than 20-35 grams of psyllium per day.
Note: It is very important to take psyllium with a large amount of water or other liquids to reduce the risk of intestinal obstruction. Taking psyllium may cause temporary flatulence and bloating.
Psyllium may reduce or delay the absorption of certain medications. Therefore, please take the corresponding medicine 1 hour before or 4 hours after taking psyllium.
If you are being treated with the following medications, please consult your doctor before taking psyllium for the first time.
Antidepressant medications, Tricyclics (Antidepressant medications, Tricyclics) Dietary fiber has been shown to reduce blood pressure and the efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants in some patients. Tricyclic antidepressants include: Amitriptyline (Elavil), Doxepin (Sinequan), Imipramine (Tofranil) Carbamazepine; Carbamazepine; Carbemazepine) is a drug used to treat epilepsy and spasms. Taking it with psyllium can reduce the absorption of the drug's potency.
Digoxin (Digoxin) is a drug that regulates heart function. This drug cannot be taken at the same time as psyllium.
Allergic Reactions:
The following serious allergic reactions have been reported after taking psyllium products, including anaphylactic shock, difficulty breathing, asthma, rash, and urticaria. Other less severe allergic reactions should also be noted. Cross-allergy may also occur in people allergic to, for example, English plantain pollen, pollen, or melon.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Laxatives containing psyllium during pregnancy have been considered Class C-2 drugs, meaning they are safe during all three stages of pregnancy. Although relevant research and experiments have not been carried out on humans and animals. Products containing psyllium are considered category I for safety during breastfeeding.
The above information is provided by Beijing Sipin International Trading Co., Ltd.