title: Plant stanols do not restore endothelial function in pre-pubertal children with familial hypercholesterolemia despite reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of plant stanols on lipids and endothelial function in pre-pubertal children with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Children with FH (n=42), aged 7-12 years, were enrolled in a double-blind crossover trial, in which they consumed 500 mL of a low-fat yogurt enriched with 2.0 g of plant stanols and 500 mL of a low-fat placebo yogurt for 4 weeks, separated by a 6-week washout period. Lipid profiles and endothelial function were assessed after both consumption periods. Endothelial function was measured as flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This daily intake of 2.0 g of stanols significantly decreased the levels of total cholesterol (TC) by 7.5% and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 9.2% as compared with placebo. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels remained unaltered. The reduction of LDL-C levels did not improve FMD, which was 10.5%+/-5.1% after plant stanol consumption and 10.6%+/-5.0% after placebo consumption, respectively (P=.852).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that plant stanols reduce LDL-C levels in children with FH without improving endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, and Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. l.jakulj@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jakulj
authors.forename: Maud N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Vissers
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodenburg
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiegman
authors.forename: Mieke D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Trip
authors.forename: John J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kastelein
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010840:Phytosterols; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol