The effect of a combination of plant sterol-enriched foods in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-fat products enriched with plant sterols in addition to a National Cholesterol Education Program step 1 diet on serum lipids and lipoproteins.


METHODS
This study was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over design with a run-in period and 2 intervention periods, each lasting 4 weeks. A total of 46 mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects (age 50.6+/-9.8) completed the trial. The study products consisted of 20 g low-fat margarine (35% fat) and 250 ml low-fat milk (0.7% fat), in total delivering 2.3g plant sterols/d.


RESULTS
Serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reduced by 5.5% (p<0.001, 95% CI: 2.5; 8.3) and 7.7% (p=0.001, 95% CI: 3.4; 11.9), respectively, by plant sterol-enriched products compared to placebo. Serum apolipoprotein B was significantly reduced by 4.6% (p<0.05, 95% CI: 1.7; 7.5), and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I by 3.4% (p<0.05, 95% CI: 0.1; 6.6) after plant sterol intake compared to the placebo supplement.


CONCLUSIONS
A combination of low-fat margarine and milk enriched with plant sterols significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and the ratio of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A-I in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects, but had no effect on C-reactive protein and lipoprotein (a) concentrations.


BACKGROUND
Unilever Denmark A/S.
Madsen
Martin B
MB
Department of Cardiology, Center for Cardiovascular Research, Arhus University Hospitals, Aalborg Hospital, Sdr. Skovvej 15, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark.
Jensen
Anne-Mette
AM
Schmidt
Erik B
EB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008383:Margarine; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010840:Phytosterols; D008383:Margarine