Effects of plant sterol and stanol ester consumption on lipid metabolism, antioxidant status and markers of oxidative stress, endothelial function and low-grade inflammation in patients on current statin treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to examine for the first time, side-by-side, the effects of plant sterol and stanol consumption on lipid metabolism and markers of antioxidant status, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation in subjects on stable statin-treatment.


METHODS
Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, intervention trial.


METHODS
University.


METHODS
Forty-five patients on current statin treatment were recruited via newspaper advertisements. Data of 41 patients were used in statistical analysis.


METHODS
Subjects consumed margarine with no added plant sterols or stanols for 4 weeks and were then divided into three groups of 15 subjects. For the next 16 weeks, one group continued with the control margarine and the other two groups with either a plant sterol- or stanol (2.5 g/day)-enriched margarine. Blood was sampled at the end of the run-in and intervention periods.


RESULTS
Plant sterol and stanol consumption significantly (P=0.026) reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 0.34 mmol/l (95% confidence interval (CI), -0.67 to -0.04 mmol/l). No effects were shown on enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and markers of oxidative modification of lipids and DNA. In addition, no effect was found on soluble adhesion molecules, C-reactive protein and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that 16 weeks of plant sterol or stanol consumption did not affect markers of antioxidant status, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation in patients on stable statin treatment, despite a significant reduction of LDL cholesterol.
De Jong
A
A
Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Plat
J
J
Bast
A
A
Godschalk
R W L
RW
Basu
S
S
Mensink
R P
RP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008383:Margarine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010840:Phytosterols; D012855:Sitosterols; C407042:plant stanol ester; D008383:Margarine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein