title: Effect of low-fat, fermented milk enriched with plant sterols on serum lipid profile and oxidative stress in moderate hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plant sterol (PS)-enriched foods have been shown to reduce plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations. In most studies, however, PSs were incorporated into food products of high fat content.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined the effect of daily consumption of PS-supplemented low-fat fermented milk (FM) on the plasma lipid profile and on systemic oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hypercholesterolemic subjects (LDL-cholesterol concentrations >or=130 and <or= 190 mg/dL; n = 194) consumed 2 low-fat portions of FM in the same meal daily for 6 wk. Subjects were randomly assigned to 2 groups: low-fat FM enriched with 0.8 g PS ester per portion or control FM. Plasma concentrations of lipids, oxidized LDL, beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured during the trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations were reduced by 9.5% and 7.8% after 3 and 6 wk, respectively, in the 1.6-g/d PS group compared with the control group, whereas plasma triacylglycerol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations were not significantly affected. In addition, there were no significant changes in serum beta-carotene on normalization to LDL cholesterol during the study period in both groups, whereas plasma concentrations of oxidized LDL were reduced significantly in the PS group compared with the control group (-1.73 compared with 1.40 U/L, respectively; P < 0.05). Plasma sitosterol concentrations were increased by 35% (P < 0.001 compared with control); however, campesterol concentrations did not change during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily consumption of 1.6 g PS in low-fat FM efficiently lowers LDL cholesterol in subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia without deleterious effects on biomarkers of oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Endocrinologie-Métabolisme, AP-HP, Hôpital de la Pitié, Paris, France. boris.hansel@psl.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hansel
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicolle
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lalanne
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tondu
authors.forename: Taous
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lassel
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Donazzolo
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrières
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krempf
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Schlienger
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Verges
authors.forename: M John
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bruckert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood