title: Effects of microcrystalline plant sterol suspension and a powdered plant sterol supplement on hypercholesterolemia in genetically obese Zucker rats.
abstract: Because dietary fat appears to be an effective vehicle for dispensing plant sterols into the diet, a special plant-sterol-containing ingredient has recently been developed. This ingredient is a plant sterol suspension in oil in which the sterols are in microcrystalline form. The objective of the present study was to analyse the cholesterol-lowering effects and safety of two different plant sterol preparations, an orally administered microcrystalline plant sterol suspension (MPS) in rapeseed oil and a powdered plant sterol supplement, in obese Zucker rats. Dietary plant sterol supplements (0.5%, w/w) were given concurrently with a high cholesterol diet (HCD, 1% cholesterol and 18% fat, w/w). No significant changes in serum triglyceride, blood glucose, serum glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase values or body and liver weights were observed. The powdered plant sterol supplement lowered the serum cholesterol by 25% (P < 0.05) and the MPS diet by 35% (P < 0.001) compared with HCD by the end of the 12-week experiment. Interestingly, the plant sterol supplements also produced a marked reduction in serum ubiquinone levels, suggesting a possible effect on isoprene synthesis. Unlike the powdered plant sterol, both MPS and plain rapeseed oil decreased the serum baseline diene conjugation values, suggesting that they protect against oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation in rats. This lipid peroxidation diminishing effect is probably due to some antioxidative components in rapeseed oil. These findings indicate that an unesterified plant sterol, such as the microcrystalline suspension in oil, effectively prevents cholesterol absorption in obese Zucker rats.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, PO Box 56, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. jari.summanen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Summanen
authors.forename: Teijo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yrjönen
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mervaala
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vaskonen
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lassila
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahotupa
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yliruusi
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karppanen
authors.forename: Raimo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hiltunen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005260:Female; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D011208:Powders; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010840:Phytosterols; D010938:Plant Oils; D011208:Powders; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D012855:Sitosterols; C025473:gamma-sitosterol