title: Effects of different phytosterol analogs on colonic mucosal cell proliferation in hamsters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different phytosterols and their analogs on colonic mucosal cell proliferation in hamsters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hamsters (n=70) were randomly assigned to seven groups after a 2-week acclimation and fed the experimental diet for 5 weeks. Diets included (i) the semipurified diet with no cholesterol (Con), (ii) the Con diet plus 0.25% cholesterol (Ch-con), or the Ch-con diet with (iii) 1% phytosterols (Ste), (iv) 1% phytostanols (Sta), (v) 1.76% sterol esters (esterified to fish oil, SteF), (vi) 0.71% stanol esters (esterified to ascorbic acid [disodium ascorbyl phytostanol phosphate, FM-VP4], 0.7% StaA) and (vii) 1.43% stanol esters (1.4% StaA), respectively. After 5 weeks on experimental diet, hamsters were sacrificed, and colons were collected. Colonic mucosal cell proliferation was measured by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against antigen Ki-67.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Colonic mucosal cell proliferation was 21.4% (P<.01) lower in the 0.7%, but not 1.4%, StaA relative to the Ch-con group. In addition, a lower (-13.9%) cell proliferation was observed in the SteF group in comparison to the Ch-con group; however, this difference achieved only a borderline level of statistical significance (P=.069). No differences were observed between Con and Ch-con, as well as among Ste, Sta, 1.4% StaA and Ch-con treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plant stanols esterified to ascorbic acid may possess anticarcinogenic properties in the colon by suppressing colonic mucosa cell proliferation; however, this effect was not observed with free plant sterols or stanols.
authors.affiliation: School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, QC, Canada H9X 3V9.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ebine
authors.forename: Yanwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Atif B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.forename: Peter J H
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001835:Body Weight; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004435:Eating; D004951:Esterification; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D010840:Phytosterols; D001205:Ascorbic Acid