Hypercholesterolemia is a main risk factor to develop cardiovascular disease, a major cause of death in Korea currently. Dietary factors which shows hypocholesterolemic effect have been reported, which includes plant proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, milk, calcium, flavonoids. Numerous animal and human studies confirmed the pronounced hypocholesterolemic effects of soluble dietary fiber, such as psyllium husk, pectin, sodium alginate, guar gum. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the hypocholesterolemic effect of dietary fiber, including binding of bile acids by fiber, interference of lipid absorption and reduced hepatic cholesterol synthesis by propionate, a product of soluble dietary fiber fermentation. Several other hypotheses have been proposed, and these hypotheses are not mutually exclusive.