What additional cardiovascular role is attributed to soluble fiber found in fava beans?

Binding with cholesterol-derived bile acids in the tract, leading to their excretion

Beyond its well-known function in the gut microbiome, soluble fiber in fava beans provides a secondary benefit specifically targeted at cardiovascular health by influencing cholesterol metabolism. This type of fiber has the capacity to chemically bind with bile acids within the digestive tract. These bile acids are substances that the liver manufactures using cholesterol. By binding to them, the fiber prevents these acids from being reabsorbed back into the body through the digestive system, forcing them to be excreted instead. In response to this loss, the body must retrieve more cholesterol from the circulating bloodstream to synthesize new bile acids, a mechanism that can contribute over time to reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein, often termed 'bad' cholesterol.