Serum lipoproteins and lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity in hypercholesterolemic subjects given beta-sitosterol.
We studied the effect on the serum LCAT activity and apolipoproteins in ten subjects with primary hypercholesterolemia after treatment with beta-sitosterol. The 2-month administration of beta-sitosterol resulted in an increase of the fractional as well as of the molar esterification rate of the LCAT. These alterations were associated with a decrease of the levels of total, esterified, and unesterified cholesterol, whereas the levels of HDL-cholesterol and the apolipoproteins A-I and B were not affected. We conclude that beta-sitosterol primarily lowers cholesterol-rich lipoproteins with a lower density range than LDL via an accelerated esterification rate of the LCAT enzyme.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004951:Esterification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D012855:Sitosterols; D014280:Triglycerides; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D002784:Cholesterol; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase