Dr Jaya Agarwal, Senior Consultant, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, says isabgol (psyllium husk) supports gut health but shouldn’t be seen as a cancer-preventing remedy. While high-fibre diets from whole foods are strongly linked to lower colorectal cancer risk, clinical trials on fibre supplements like psyllium, including a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, found no clear benefit in preventing the recurrence of colorectal adenomas, cancer precursors. Isabgol remains genuinely useful for relieving constipation and supporting blood sugar and cholesterol control when taken with adequate water, but Dr Agarwal stresses it should complement a fibre-rich diet, not replace it. True cancer prevention, she notes, depends on a healthy weight, regular activity, avoiding smoking and processed meat, and timely screening, not any single supplement.
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