Optimizing the effect of plant sterols on cholesterol absorption in man.
During three experimental periods, nine adults were hospitalized on a metabolic ward and fed a meal containing 500 mg of cholesterol as a component of scrambled eggs. In addition, the meal contained: 1) no additive, 2) 1 g beta-sitosterol, or 3) 2 g beta-sitosteryl oleate. Stools for the succeeding 5 days were analyzed to determine the percentage of the cholesterol in the test meal that was absorbed. The addition of beta-sitosterol resulted in a 42% decrease in cholesterol absorption; the beta-sitosteryl oleate caused a 33% reduction. These results indicate that the judicious addition of beta-sitosterol or beta-sitosteryl oleate to meals containing cholesterol-rich foods will result in a significant decrease in cholesterol absorption, with a consequent decrease in plasma cholesterol.
D000042:Absorption; D000328:Adult; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism*; D004531:Eggs; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D012855:Sitosterols; C034158:beta-sitosterol oleate; C025473:gamma-sitosterol