title: [Is the Finnish "healthy margarine" food or medicine? Addition of plant sterols can lower cholesterol levels].
abstract: Sine the autumn of 1995, Benecol, a proprietary brand of cholesterol-lowering margarine, has been available in ordinary grocery shops in Finland. The active ingredient is a sitostanol ester. Several studies in humans have shown use of the margarine to result in an approximately 10 per cent reduction in total serum cholesterol, and a 13-15 per cent reduction of LDL-cholesterol. However, further studies are required of its phyto-oestrogenic and endocrine effects, and its effects on growing children, particularly regarding subsequent fertility in boys. Although the margarine is classed as a 'functional food' in Finland, the question arises where the line is to be drawn between medicines and food-stuffs.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska institutet, enheten för preventiv nutrition, Huddinge sjukhus.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wikström
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005387:Finland; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D008383:Margarine; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D012855:Sitosterols; D008383:Margarine; D002784:Cholesterol
vernacular_title: Ar det finska "hälsomargarinet" mat eller medicin? Tillsats av växtsteroler kan sänka höga kolesterolvärden.