title: Phytosterols in milk as a depressor of plasma cholesterol levels: experimental evidence with hypercholesterolemic Portuguese subjects.
abstract: Plant sterols have been reported to decrease plasma concentrations of cholesterol without any side effects. To evaluate the effects on plasma cholesterol concentrations and the hemorheological parameters, we performed a study with hypercholesterolemic patients (n = 19) treated with phytosterol-enriched milk (2 g/day). Hypercholesterolemic patients (n = 15) of matched age drinking equal type of milk but without phytosterols were used as control group. Concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C and hemorheological parameters were measured in the beginning, after 15 and 30 days of milk intake. After 15 days of beverage intake, hypercholesterolemic subjects treated with phytosterol-enriched milk showed a significant decrease in plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-C by 9.62% (p < 0.05) and 12.20% (p < 0.05), respectively. After 30 days, a little increase in the total cholesterol and LDL-C concentrations were observed. In the hypercholesterolemic control group there were nonsignificant changes between plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C during the study. The evaluation of plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation shows no changes statistically significant during the study for both groups studied. The results obtained during the study show a positive effect with the phytosterol-enriched milk as plasma cholesterol-lowering as combined treatment for hypercholesterolemia.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biopatologia Química, Unidade de Biopatologia Vascular, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal. sabreu@fm.ul.pt
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: A Vasco
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Maria
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martins-Silva
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saldanha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010840:Phytosterols