title: Serum retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene levels are not altered by excess ingestion of diacylglycerol-containing plant sterol esters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diacylglycerol (DAG) suppresses the postprandial increase in serum triglycerides, and has antiobesity effects. On the other hand, plant sterol esters (PSE) lower serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemia. Thus, DAG-containing PSE (PSE/DAG) would be expected to maintain an appropriate serum cholesterol level and decrease the risk of arteriosclerotic disorders. Several recent studies, however, report negative effects of PSE on serum fat-soluble (pro)vitamin levels. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of PSE/DAG on serum retinol, beta-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol levels using a threefold excess of the effective dose obtained in our previous study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized placebo-controlled double-blind parallel study was performed in healthy and mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects, in which the subjects ingested 1.2 g PSE/30 g DAG for 2 weeks in the form of mayonnaise-type products. Triacylglycerol (TAG) mayonnaise was used as a control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no subjective adverse effects or changes in serum retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene levels, abdominal symptoms, hematologic values, or blood biochemical values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ingestion of a threefold excess of PSE/DAG for 2 weeks had no adverse effects compared to ingestion of conventional TAG mayonnaise.
authors.affiliation: Health Care Products Research Laboratories No. 1, Kao Corporation, Tokyo, Japan. saito.shinichiro@kao.co.jp
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Kazuichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomonobu
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shiiba
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hase
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tokimitsu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004075:Diglycerides; D010840:Phytosterols; D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol