title: Lipid-lowering Activity of Natural and Semi-Synthetic Sterols and Stanols.
abstract: Consumption of plant sterols/ stanols has long been demonstrated to reduce plasma cholesterol levels. The objective of this review is to demonstrate the lipid-lowering activity and anti-atherogenic effects of natural and semi-synthetic plant sterols/ stanols based on evidence from cell-culture studies, animal studies and clinical trials. Additionally, this review highlights certain molecular mechanisms by which plant sterols/ stanols lower plasma cholesterol levels with a special emphasis on factors that affect the cholesterol-lowering activity of plant sterols/stanols. The crystalline nature and the poor oil solubility of these natural products could be important factors that limit their cholesterol-lowering efficiency. Several attempts have been made to improve the cholesterol-lowering activity by enhancing the bioavailability of crystalline sterols and stanols. Approaches involved reduction of the crystal size and/or esterification with fatty acids from vegetable or fish oils. However, the most promising approach in this context is the chemical modification of plant sterols /stanols into water soluble disodium ascorbyl phytostanyl phosphates analogue by esterification with ascorbic acid. This novel semi-synthetic stanol derivative has improved efficacy over natural plant sterols/ stanols and can provide additional benefits by combining the cholesterol-lowering properties of plant stanols with the antioxidant potential of ascorbic acid. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see "For Readers") may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue's contents page.
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham.
authors.forename: Dhiaa A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: Ellen K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Wasan
authors.forename: Kishor M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wasan
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gershkovich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D010840:Phytosterols; D002784:Cholesterol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid