title: Cholesterol-lowering nutraceuticals and functional foods.
abstract: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that elevated levels of plasma total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are the major risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), whereas high concentrations of plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and a low ratio of TC to HDL-C are protective against CHD. A relationship between plasma TC and the risk of CHD is well established at concentrations above 240 mg/dL. In addition to the use of three main classes of cholesterol-lowering medications, including HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, anion-exchange resins, and fibrates, a nutritionally balanced diet that reduces saturated fat and cholesterol intake has traditionally been the first goal of dietary therapy in lowering plasma TC. In recent years, nutraceuticals and functional foods have attracted much interest as possible alternative therapies for lowering plasma TC, especially for hypercholesterolemia patients, whose blood cholesterol level is marginally high (200-240 mg/dL) but not high enough to warrant the prescription of cholesterol-lowering medications. This review summarizes the findings of recent studies on the production, application, efficacy, and mechanisms of popular cholesterol-lowering nutraceuticals and functional foods.
authors.affiliation: Food and Nutritional Sciences Programme, Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, China. zhenyuchen@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Zhen-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Ka Ying
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002392:Catechin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D043302:Cultured Milk Products; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D019612:Fagopyrum; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005737:Garlic; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012275:Oryza; D010636:Phenols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059808:Polyphenols; D013662:Tea
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005419:Flavonoids; D009281:Naphthalenes; D010636:Phenols; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D010840:Phytosterols; D059808:Polyphenols; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin