Phytosterols in low- and nonfat beverages as part of a controlled diet fail to lower plasma lipid levels.
Dietary phytosterols have been shown to reduce plasma cholesterol concentrations when consumed in different food matrices, but their effectiveness in nonfat or low-fat beverages has not been established. The objective of this study was to examine whether phytosterols alter plasma lipid levels when incorporated into nonfat or low-fat beverages. Fifteen moderately hypercholesterolemic men and women consumed three precisely controlled diets for periods of 21 days each in random order. Diets contained either a nonfat placebo beverage (NF), a beverage that is nonfat with added phytosterols (NFPS), or a beverage that is low in fat with added phytosterols (LFPS). Total cholesterol concentrations were not different between groups at endpoint, decreasing (P < 0.05) equally by 8.5%, 11.6%, and 10.1% with NF, NFPS, and LFPS consumption, respectively. There was no effect of dietary treatment on LDL cholesterol concentrations, which decreased over time (P < 0.05) by 5%, 10.4%, and 8.5% with NF, NFPS, and LFPS, respectively. HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations were unaffected by the diets. Provision of phytosterols as part of nonfat and low-fat beverages did not exert any greater hypocholesterolemic effect than a nonfat placebo beverage. These results show that intake of phytosterols in a low-fat beverage format is not efficacious for lipid level modification.
School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, Canada H9X 3V9. jonesp@macdonald.mcgill.ca
Peter J H
PJ
Jones
Catherine A
CA
Vanstone
Mahmoud
M
Raeini-Sarjaz
Marie-Pierre
MP
St-Onge
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001628:Beverages; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids; D010840:Phytosterols; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides