Plant sterols in food: no consensus in guidelines.
Plant sterols are supplemented in foods to reduce cardiovascular risk. Randomized controlled trials show 2 g of plant sterols a day reduce serum cholesterol by about 10%. This reduction in serum cholesterol levels is achieved at the expense of increased serum plant sterol levels. Findings in patients with phytosterolemia, in experimental studies and in clinical trials have lead to speculations that plant sterols might be atherogenic. In view of emerging safety issues the role of plant sterols in cardiovascular prevention has become controversial. This review reflects the ongoing controversial scientific debate and points out recent developments in guidelines of national and international societies.
Abteilung für Kardiologie, Klinikum Oldenburg, European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany. Electronic address: oweingartner@aol.com.
Oliver
O
Weingärtner
Institut für Laboratoriumsmedizin, Klinische Chemie und Molekulare Diagnostik, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; LIFE - Leipziger Forschungszentrum für Zivilisationserkrankungen, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Ronny
R
Baber
Institut für Laboratoriumsmedizin, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany.
Daniel
D
Teupser
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010840:Phytosterols; D002784:Cholesterol
Cardiovascular risk; Cholesterol; Guidelines; Plant sterols