A diet moderately enriched in phytosterols lowers plasma cholesterol concentrations in normocholesterolemic humans.
Twelve normolipidic healthy human subjects were fed a diet with or without additional soybean phytosterols for 4 weeks in a crossover design. The order of the treatments was randomized. Phytosterols were added to the diet blended in butter. The dietary ratio cholesterol:phytosterols was 0.7 during the control period (436 mg cholesterol/day and 29 mg phytosterols/day) and 1.88 during the phytosterols period (410 mg cholesterol/day and 740 mg phytosterols/day). Blood cholesterol was 10% lower after subjects consumed the phytosterol-enriched diet than when they consumed the control diet (p < 0.001), which was due to a 15% LDL cholesterol decrease (p < 0.001). The HDL cholesterol:LDL cholesterol ratio was markedly enhanced (+25%) (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that a significant lowering of plasma total and LDL cholesterol can be effected by a modest dietary intake of soybean phytosterols.
Pelletier
X
X
Centre de Nutrition Humaine, Nancy, France.
Belbraouet
S
S
Mirabel
D
D
Mordret
F
F
Perrin
J L
JL
Pages
X
X
Debry
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013025:Glycine max
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010840:Phytosterols; D002784:Cholesterol