Dietary fiber has important hypocholesterolemic effects and may reduce risk for coronary artery disease. Careful clinical studies indicate that foods such as oat bran or beans, rich in water-soluble fiber, can decrease serum total cholesterol by 19% while decreasing serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 22%. Food supplements rich in soluble fiber such as psyllium mucilloid are well tolerated and may lower serum cholesterol by 15%. Thus, high fiber foods or soluble fiber food supplements may decrease serum cholesterol by 15% to 19% and decrease estimated risk for coronary heart disease by greater than 30%.