Intake occasion affects the serum cholesterol lowering of a plant sterol-enriched single-dose yoghurt drink in mildly hypercholesterolaemic subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of intake occasion (with or without a meal), and product fat level on the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of a plant sterol (PS)-enriched (3 g/day) single-dose yoghurt drink.


METHODS
Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study with a 4 weeks run-in and 4 weeks intervention period.


METHODS
Subjects recruited from the general community.


METHODS
A total of 184 moderate hypercholesterolaemic subjects (81 men and 103 women) (age 57+/-2 years) completed the study.


METHODS
The study product was a 100-g single-dose yoghurt drink with or without added PS in the form of PS esters. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of five 4-week treatments: (i) drink A (0.1% dairy fat, 2.2% total fat) with a meal, (ii) drink A without a meal, (iii) drink B (1.5% dairy fat, 3.3% total fat) with a meal, (iv) drink B without a meal and (v) placebo drink with a meal.


RESULTS
LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) was significantly lowered when the single-dose drink was taken with a meal independent of its fat content (drink A: -9.5% (P<0.001, 95% CI: -13.8 to -5.2); drink B: -9.3% (P<0.001, 95% CI: -13.7 to -4.9)) as compared to placebo. When consumed without a meal, LDL-C was also significantly decreased (drink A: -5.1% (P<0.05, 95% CI: -9.4 to -0.8); drink B: -6.9% (P<0.01, 95% CI: -11.3 to -2.5) as compared to placebo, however the effect was significantly smaller as compared to the intake with a meal.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that a PS-ester-enriched single-dose yoghurt drink effectively reduces LDL-C irrespective of the fat content of the product. A substantially larger decrease in serum cholesterol concentration was achieved when the single-dose drink was consumed with a meal emphasizing the importance of the intake occasion for optimal cholesterol-lowering efficacy.


BACKGROUND
Unilever Research and Development, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands.
Doornbos
A M E
AM
Unilever Food and Health Research Institute, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands.
Meynen
E M
EM
Duchateau
G S M J E
GS
van der Knaap
H C M
HC
Trautwein
E A
EA
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015014:Yogurt / Q000032:analysis
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D010840:Phytosterols