The effect of a very high daily plant stanol ester intake on serum lipids, carotenoids, and fat-soluble vitamins.
OBJECTIVE
Intake of 2-3 g/d of plant stanols as esters lowers LDL cholesterol level, but there is no information about the efficacy and safety of a respective very high daily intake. We studied the effects of 8.8 g/d of plant stanols as esters on serum lipids and safety variables in subjects with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia.


METHODS
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study the intervention (n=25) and control (n=24) groups consumed spread and drink enriched or not with plant stanol esters for 10 weeks.


RESULTS
Plant stanols reduced serum total and LDL cholesterol concentrations by 12.8 and 17.3% from baseline and by 12.0 and 17.1% from controls (P<0.01 for all). Liver enzymes, markers of hemolysis, and blood cells were unchanged. Serum vitamins A, D, and gamma-tocopherol concentrations, and the ratios of alpha-tocopherol to cholesterol were unchanged. Serum beta-carotene concentrations decreased significantly from baseline and were different from controls even when adjusted for cholesterol. Serum alpha-carotene concentration and alpha-carotene/cholesterol ratio were not different from controls.


CONCLUSIONS
High intake of plant stanols reduced LDL cholesterol values without any other side effects than reduction of serum beta-carotene concentration. However, the end product, serum vitamin A levels, were unchanged. The results suggest that plant stanol ester intake can be increased to induce a greater cholesterol lowering effect.
Gylling
Helena
H
Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. helena.gylling@uku.fi
Hallikainen
Maarit
M
Nissinen
Markku J
MJ
Miettinen
Tatu A
TA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D012855:Sitosterols; D014815:Vitamins; C407042:plant stanol ester; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014807:Vitamin D; D002338:Carotenoids; D002784:Cholesterol; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol