title: Effects of plant sterol- or stanol-enriched margarine on fasting plasma oxyphytosterol concentrations in healthy subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Consumption of plant sterols and plant stanols reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations. At the same time, plasma plant sterol concentrations will increase after plant sterol consumption, but decrease after plant stanol consumption. In contrast to plant stanols, plant sterols can undergo oxidation and form oxyphytosterols. Findings from in vitro and animal studies suggest that oxyphytosterols might be atherogenic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to examine whether plant sterol and stanol consumption changes fasting plasma oxyphytosterol concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double blind, cross-over study was performed in which 43 healthy subjects (18-70 years) consumed for 4 weeks a plant sterol-enriched (3.0 g/d of plant sterols), a plant stanol-enriched (3.0 g/d of plant stanols), and a control margarine separated by wash-out periods of 4 weeks. Oxyphytosterol concentrations were determined in BHT-enriched plasma via GC-MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to control, serum LDL-C concentrations were reduced after plant sterol (-8.1%; p < 0.001) and plant stanol consumption (-7.8%; p < 0.001). Plant sterol consumption did not change plasma oxyphytosterol concentrations. On the other hand, intake of the plant stanol margarine reduced 7β-OH-campesterol by 0.07 ng/mL (~14%; p < 0.01) and by 0.07 ng/mL (~15%; p < 0.01) compared with the control and sterol margarines, respectively. When standardized for serum cholesterol, effects on these oxyphytosterols were comparable. In addition, plant stanol intake reduced cholesterol-standardized 7-keto-campesterol levels compared with plant sterol intake (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily consumption of a plant sterol-enriched margarine does not increase oxyphytosterol concentrations, while plant stanol consumption may reduce the concentrations of the oxidative plant sterol metabolites 7β-OH-campesterol and 7-keto-campesterol.
authors: Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. sabine.baumgartner@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Baumgartner
authors: Ronald P
authors: RP
authors: Mensink
authors: Constanze
authors: C
authors: Husche
authors: Dieter
authors: D
authors: Lütjohann
authors: Jogchum
authors: J
authors: Plat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008383:Margarine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010840:Phytosterols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012855:Sitosterols; C407042:plant stanol ester; D008383:Margarine