title: Consumption of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol lowering foods improves blood lipids without affecting concentrations of fat soluble compounds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Consumption of a cholesterol lowering dietary portfolio including plant sterols (PS), viscous fibre, soy proteins and nuts for 6 months improves blood lipid profile. Plant sterols reduce blood cholesterol by inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption and concerns have been raised whether PS consumption reduces fat soluble vitamin absorption.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to determine effects of consumption of a cholesterol lowering dietary portfolio on circulating concentrations of PS and fat soluble vitamins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a parallel design study, 351 hyperlipidemic participants from 4 centres across Canada were randomized to 1 of 3 groups. Participants followed dietary advice with control or portfolio diet. Participants on routine and intensive portfolio involved 2 and 7 clinic visits, respectively, over 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No changes in plasma concentrations of α and γ tocopherol, lutein, lycopene and retinol, but decreased β-carotene concentrations were observed with intensive (week 12: p = 0.045; week 24: p = 0.039) and routine (week 12: p = 0.031; week 24: p = 0.078) portfolio groups compared to control. However, cholesterol adjusted β-carotene and fat soluble compound concentrations were not different compared to control. Plasma PS concentrations were increased with intensive (campesterol:p = 0.012; β-sitosterol:p = 0.035) and routine (campesterol: p = 0.034; β-sitosterol: p = 0.080) portfolio groups compared to control. Plasma cholesterol-adjusted campesterol and β-sitosterol concentrations were negatively correlated (p < 0.001) with total and LDL-C levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results demonstrate that consuming a portfolio diet reduces serum total and LDL-C levels while increasing PS values, without altering fat soluble compounds concentrations. The extent of increments of PS with the current study are not deleterious and also maintaining optimum levels of fat soluble vitamins are of paramount necessity to maintain overall metabolism and health. Results indicate portfolio diet as one of the best options for CVD risk reduction.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00438425.
authors.forename: Vanu R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Ramprasath
authors.forename: David J A
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lamarche
authors.forename: Cyril W C
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.forename: Luba
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cermakova
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couture
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: Shahad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdulnour
authors.forename: Darshna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Balachandran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bashyam
authors.forename: Korbua
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srichaikul
authors.forename: Russell J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vidgen
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Josse
authors.forename: Lawrence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Leiter
authors.forename: Philip W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Connelly
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frohlich
authors.affiliation: Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2 N2, Canada. peter_jones@umanitoba.ca.
authors.forename: Peter J H
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000178:diet therapy; D014975:Lutein / Q000097:blood; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009754:Nuts; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D010840:Phytosterols; D012855:Sitosterols; D014280:Triglycerides; D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids; C021273:campesterol; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D002784:Cholesterol; D024505:Tocopherols; D000077276:Lycopene; D014975:Lutein