title: Common sources and composition of phytosterols and their estimated intake by the population in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Phytosterols have been used alone, or combined with lipid-altering drugs, to reduce cholesterol levels and the burden of cardiovascular disease. Considerable variation in the composition of phytosterols exists and its consumption, in a regular diet, by the Brazilian population is still unknown. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the phytosterols content of the most consumed plant foods and to estimate the phytosterols intake by this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intake of plant foods of a representative population of the city of São Paulo (n = 1609), randomly selected on the basis of the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics census data (2010), was obtained by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Foods were chosen on the basis of the Consume Expenditure Survey (2002-2003) and from answers to the FFQ. Phytosterols composition of most consumed greens, legumes, cereals, and seeds, fruits, and vegetable oils was determined by gas chromatography (flame ionization detection). Daily phytosterols intake was estimated in terms of mg per 100 g (mg/100 g(-1)) of edible portion. Underreporters and overreporters were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (SE) daily phytosterols intake in the diet of the study population was 100.6 (1.2) mg, with β-sitosterol as the largest sterol component (65.4%), followed by campesterol (23.2%), and stigmasterol (10%). No significant changes in daily phytosterols intake were observed after exclusion of underreporters and overreporters. Considerable variation was observed in phytosterols content among the most consumed plant foods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analysis of phytosterols composition in most consumed plant foods has shown that phytosterols content varied among food groups. Dietary intake of phytosterols in a large population of the city of São Paulo is in the same range of some countries.
authors: Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Celma Muniz
authors: CM
authors: Martins
authors: Francisco Antonio
authors: FA
authors: Fonseca
authors: Cristiano Augusto
authors: CA
authors: Ballus
authors: Antonio Martins
authors: AM
authors: Figueiredo-Neto
authors: Adriana Dillenburg
authors: AD
authors: Meinhart
authors: Helena Teixeira
authors: HT
authors: de Godoy
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Izar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D013265:Stigmasterol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010840:Phytosterols; D010938:Plant Oils; D012855:Sitosterols; C021273:campesterol; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D002784:Cholesterol; D013265:Stigmasterol