title: Retinol, vitamin D, carotenes and alpha-tocopherol in serum of a moderately hypercholesterolemic population consuming sitostanol ester margarine.
abstract: We have shown earlier that sitostanol ester margarine lowers serum cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol absorption so that, theoretically, there could be interference with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Accordingly, we investigated whether sitostanol ester margarine affects the serum levels of vitamin D, retinol, alpha-tocopherol and alpha- and beta-carotenes during 1-year treatment in 102 subjects and 49 controls with moderate hypercholesterolemia. The vitamins were assayed at baseline on home diet, on margarine alone, after 1 year's consumption of sitostanol ester margarine and after an additional 2 months on home diet. In the sitostanol group, serum plant sterols, indicators of cholesterol absorption efficiency, were reduced up to -38% in relation to controls from home diet (P < 0.01) indicating that cholesterol absorption was markedly reduced. Vitamin D and retinol concentrations and the ratio of alpha-tocopherol to cholesterol were unchanged by sitostanol ester. Serum beta-carotenes and alpha-carotene concentration but not proportion were reduced in the sitostanol group from baseline and in relation to controls (P < 0.01). Retinol and vitamin D were unassociated with serum cholesterol, plant sterols or other vitamins, whereas alpha-tocopherol and carotenes were significantly associated with serum plant sterols suggesting that the higher cholesterol absorption efficiency, the higher the alpha-tocopherol and carotene levels in serum. We conclude that sitostanol ester did not affect vitamin D and retinol concentrations and alpha-tocopherol/cholesterol proportion, but reduced serum beta-carotene levels. Alpha-tocopherol and carotenes, but not vitamin D and retinol, were related to serum cholesterol and cholesterol absorption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gylling
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puska
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vartiainen
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Miettinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008383:Margarine; D008875:Middle Aged; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004041:Dietary Fats; D012855:Sitosterols; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D008383:Margarine; D002784:Cholesterol; C021255:stigmastanol