title: Food sources of plant sterols in the EPIC Norfolk population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the intake of plant sterols and identify major dietary sources of plant sterols in the British diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 798 men and women recruited during 1993-1997, participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC-Norfolk).
  
  
  METHODS
  A database of the plant sterol (campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campestanol and beta-sitostanol) content in foods, based on gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) analyses, was linked to nutritional intake data from food frequency questionnaires in the EPIC-Norfolk population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (s.d.) intake of total plant sterols was 300 (108) mg/d for men and 293 (100) mg/d for women. Bread and other cereals, vegetables and added fats were the three major food sources of plant sterols representing 18.6 (8.9), 18.4 (8.5) and 17.3 (10.4)% of the total plant sterol intake respectively. Women had a higher plant sterol density than men (36.4 vs 32.8 mg/1000 kJ, P<0.001) and in relation to energy intake higher intakes of plant sterols from vegetables, bread and other cereals, added fats, fruits and mixed dishes (all P<0.001), whilst men had higher intakes of plant sterols from cakes, scones and chocolate, potatoes (all P<0.001) and other foods (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intake of plant sterols in UK, mainly from bread, cereals, fats and vegetables, is much higher than previously reported but comparable to recent European studies.
authors: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. sofia.klingberg@nutrition.gu.se
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Klingberg
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Andersson
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Mulligan
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bhaniani
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Welch
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bingham
authors: K-T
authors: KT
authors: Khaw
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Andersson
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Ellegård
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001939:Bread; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D010840:Phytosterols