title: Naturally-occurring phytosterols in the usual diet influence cholesterol metabolism in healthy subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Modulation of cholesterol absorption is potentially an effective way of lowering blood cholesterol levels and decreasing inherent cardiovascular risk in the general population. It is well established that cholesterol absorption efficiency can be modified by the intake of foods enriched with gram-doses of phytosterols, but little is known about the effects of phytosterols in the usual diet, even though moderate doses have been reported to affect whole-body cholesterol metabolism. A way to indirectly measure cholesterol synthesis and absorption rates is by quantification of serum non-cholesterol sterols. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of naturally occurring phytosterol intake on cholesterol absorption and serum cholesterol concentrations in a Spanish free-living population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 85 healthy volunteers were studied regarding their dietary habits (using a validated food frequency questionnaire), lipid profile and surrogate markers of cholesterol metabolism. Subjects were classified into tertiles of total phytosterol intake, and differences in lipid profile and markers of cholesterol metabolism were assessed by multivariate linear regression models adjusted for various confounders. The estimated daily intake of phytosterols and cholesterol was 489 (median) and 513 (mean) mg, respectively. Both serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol concentration and sitosterol-to-cholesterol ratio adjusted by sitosterol intake (a surrogate marker of intestinal cholesterol absorption) decreased significantly (p < 0.05, both) across tertiles of phytosterol intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate doses of phytosterols in the habitual diet might have a protective effect on the lipid profile via decreasing cholesterol absorption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sports, University of Zaragoza, Plaza Universidad 3, 22002-Huesca, Spain.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sanclemente
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marques-Lopes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fajó-Pascual
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cofán
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jarauta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Puzo
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: García-Otín
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010840:Phytosterols