Plant stanol ester margarine lowers serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations of healthy children: the STRIP project. Special Turku Coronary Risk Factors Intervention Project.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate cholesterol-lowering efficacy and safety of plant stanol ester margarine in healthy 6-year-old children already consuming a low-saturated-fat, low-cholesterol diet.


METHODS
Eighty-one intervention children from the STRIP project, a randomized prospective trial aimed at reducing exposure of young children to the known environmental atherosclerosis risk factors, were recruited to this double-blind crossover study at 6 years of age. In randomized order the families were advised to replace daily 20 g of the child's dietary fat intake with plant stanol ester margarine or control margarine for 3 months. The washout period lasted 6 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed according to intention-to-treat principle with analysis of variance for crossover design.


RESULTS
The mean daily plant stanol ester margarine consumption was 18.2 g (1.5 g plant stanol). The well-tolerated plant stanol ester margarine reduced serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations by 5.4% and 7.5%, respectively (P =.0001 for both). The serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations and alpha-tocopherol to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio remained unchanged. The serum beta-carotene to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio decreased by 19% (P =.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Plant stanol ester margarine significantly diminishes serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration without adverse clinical effects in healthy children who already consume a low-saturated-fat, low-cholesterol diet but decreases the serum beta-carotene to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio.
Tammi
A
A
Cardiorespiratory Research Unit and the Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Rönnemaa
T
T
Gylling
H
H
Rask-Nissilä
L
L
Viikari
J
J
Tuominen
J
J
Pulkki
K
K
Simell
O
O
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007223:Infant; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D008383:Margarine / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors
D004041:Dietary Fats; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012855:Sitosterols; C407042:plant stanol ester; D008383:Margarine; D002784:Cholesterol