Effects of low-fat stanol ester enriched margarines on concentrations of serum carotenoids in subjects with elevated serum cholesterol concentrations.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of low-fat stanol ester margarines on concentrations of serum carotenoids.


METHODS
A randomized parallel double-blind study design consisting of a 4-week run-in (high-fat diet) and an 8-week experimental (low-fat, low-cholesterol diet) period. During the experimental diet period subjects consumed low-fat wood stanol ester (WSEM), vegetable oil stanol ester (VOSEM) or control (no stanol esters) margarine daily. The daily mean total stanol intake was 2.31 and 2.16 g in the WSEM and VOSEM groups, respectively.


METHODS
Outpatient clinical trial with free-living subjects.


METHODS
Altogether, 60 hypercholesterolaemic subjects were selected for the study out of 91 originally screened. The study was completed by 55 subjects.


METHODS
Serum alpha- and beta-carotene and lycopene determined by the HPLC.


RESULTS
Serum alpha-carotene concentration did not change significantly in either of the experimental groups, whereas beta-carotene concentration decreased significantly in the WSEM and VOSEM groups (P<0.01), and the change differed significantly (P<0.05 and P <0.01, respectively) from that of the control group. Decrease in alpha+beta-carotene concentration was significantly greater (P <0.05) in both experimental groups than in the control group. However, the change in alpha-, beta- or alpha+beta-carotene/total cholesterol ratio did not differ significantly among the groups. No significant changes were found in serum lycopene or lycopene/total cholesterol ratio in both experimental groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-fat stanol ester margarines appeared to have little effect on serum concentrations of alpha-, beta- or alpha + beta-carotene, or lycopene.


BACKGROUND
Grant to the University of Kuopio by Raisio Benecol Ltd, Raisio, Finland.
Hallikainen
M A
MA
Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. Maarit.Hallikainen@uku.fi
Sarkkinen
E S
ES
Uusitupa
M I
MI
D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004952:Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008383:Margarine; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004952:Esters; D010840:Phytosterols; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; C041635:alpha-carotene; D008383:Margarine; D002784:Cholesterol; D000077276:Lycopene