title: Dietary plant stanol ester consumption improves immune function in asthma patients: results of a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In vitro and ex vivo studies have suggested that plant sterols and stanols can shift the T helper (Th) 1/Th2 balance toward a Th1-type immune response, which may be beneficial in Th2-dominant conditions such as asthma and allergies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated in vivo whether plant stanol esters affect the immune response in asthma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight asthma patients participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study. All subjects started with a 2-wk run-in period in which they consumed 150 mL control soy-based yogurt without added plant stanol esters/d. Next, an 8-wk experimental period was started in which one-half of the participants received plant stanol enriched soy-based yogurts (4.0 g plant stanols/d), whereas the other one-half of subjects continued the consumption of control yogurts. After 4 wk of daily plant stanol consumption, all participants were vaccinated against hepatitis A virus (HAV), and the increase of antibody titres was monitored weekly until 4 wk after vaccination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asthma patients in the plant stanol ester group showed higher antibody titres against HAV 3 and 4 wk after vaccination [19% (P = 0.037) and 22% (P = 0.030), respectively]. Also, substantial reductions in plasma total immunoglobulin E, interleukin (IL)-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α were shown in the plant stanol ester group. The increase in serum plant stanol concentrations was correlated significantly with the decrease in IL-13 concentrations and the Th1 switch in the Th1/Th2 balance. However, no absolute differences in cytokine production between the plant stanol ester group and the control group were shown.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, we are among the first authors to show that plant stanol ester consumption improves the immune function in vivo in asthma patients. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01715675.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, and.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brüll
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, and.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Smet
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, and.
authors.forename: Ronald P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mensink
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vreugdenhil
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kerksiek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lütjohann
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, Netherlands; and.
authors.forename: Geertjan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wesseling
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, and j.plat@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Jogchum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plat
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045730:Soy Foods; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D012855:Sitosterols; C407042:plant stanol ester; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: IgE; asthma; immune function; plant stanol esters; vaccination response