title: Effects of plant stanol esters supplied in low-fat yoghurt on serum lipids and lipoproteins, non-cholesterol sterols and fat soluble antioxidant concentrations.
abstract: Oil-based products enriched with plant stanol esters can lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations by 10-14%. Effectiveness of low-fat products, however, has never been evaluated, although such products fit into a healthy diet. We therefore examined the effects of plant stanol esters emulsified into low-fat yoghurt (0.7% fat) on fasting concentrations of plasma lipids and lipid-soluble antioxidants, which may also change by plant stanol consumption. Sixty non-hypercholesterolemic subjects first consumed daily three cups (3 x 150 ml) of placebo yoghurt for 3 weeks. For the next 4 weeks, 30 subjects continued with the placebo yoghurt, while the other 30 subjects received three cups of experimental yoghurt. Each cup provided 1 g of plant stanols (0.71 g sitostanol plus 0.29 g campestanol) as its fatty acid ester. LDL cholesterol (mean+/-S.D.) increased by 0.06+/-0.21 mmol/l in the placebo group, but decreased by -0.34+/-0.30 mmol/l in the experimental group. The difference in changes between the two groups of 0.40 mmol or 13.7% was highly significant (P<0.001; 95% confidence interval for the difference, (-)0.26 -(-)0.53 mmol/l). Effects were already maximal after 1 week. HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations did not change. Total tocopherol levels increased by 1.43 micromol/mmol LDL cholesterol (14.0%, P=0.015). beta-carotene levels, however, decreased by -0.02 micromol/mmol LDL cholesterol (-14.4%, P=0.038). Decreases in absolute beta-carotene concentrations were found in all apoB-containing lipoproteins. LDL-cholesterol standardised phytofluene levels decreased by 21.4+/-25.7% (P<0.001), while other plasma carotenoid (lutein/zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and alpha-carotene) levels did not change significantly. We conclude that low-fat yoghurt enriched with plant stanol esters lowers within 1 week LDL cholesterol to the same extent as oil-based products. LDL-cholesterol standardised concentrations of tocopherol increased. The observed decrease in beta-carotene levels, as found in many other studies, appears not to be limited to the LDL fraction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, Netherlands. r.mensink@hb.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: Ronald P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mensink
authors.forename: Spike
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebbing
authors.forename: Martijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindhout
authors.forename: Jogchum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plat
authors.forename: Marjolien M A
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Heugten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000097:blood*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012995:Solubility / Q000187:drug effects; D013265:Stigmasterol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015014:Yogurt
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010840:Phytosterols; D012855:Sitosterols; C021273:campesterol; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D002784:Cholesterol; D013265:Stigmasterol