title: Effects of plant stanol ester consumption on fasting plasma oxy(phyto)sterol concentrations as related to fecal microbiota characteristics.
abstract: Information regarding dietary effects on plasma oxyphytosterol concentrations as well as on the origin of oxyphytosterols is scarce. We hypothesized that plant sterols are oxidized in the intestinal lumen, mediated by microbial activity, followed by uptake into the circulation. To address this hypothesis, we carried out, a randomized, double blind, crossover study in 13 healthy subjects, who consumed for 3 weeks control and plant stanol ester enriched margarines (3.0g/d plant stanols) separated by a 4-week wash-out period. Plasma oxy(phyto)sterols were determined via GC-MS/MS, while microbiota analyses were performed on fecal DNA using a phylogenetic microarray to assess microbial composition and diversity. Plasma plant sterol concentrations did not correlate with plasma oxyphytosterols concentrations at baseline. Plant stanol consumption reduced serum sitosterol and campesterol concentrations (-37% and -38%), respectively (p<0.001), as well as plasma concentrations of 7β-OH-campesterol (-24%; p<0.05), 7β-OH-sitosterol (-17%; p<0.05) and 7-keto-sitosterol (-13%; p<0.05). Although the intestinal microbiota composition and diversity of the faecal contents were not different between the two periods, we observed significant correlations between several specific bacterial groups and plasma plant sterol, but not with plasma oxyphytosterol concentrations. In conclusion, plant stanol ester consumption reduced serum plant sterol and plasma oxyphytosterol concentrations, while intestinal microbiota composition and diversity were not changed. To definitely answer the effects of microbiota on oxyphytosterol formation, future studies could examine oxyphytosterol concentrations after changing intestinal microbial composition or by measuring intestinal oxyphytosterol formation after providing labelled non-oxidized plant sterols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology and Movement Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Center+, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: sabine.baumgartner@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology and Movement Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Center+, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ronald P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mensink
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology and Movement Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Center+, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Els De
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smet
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology and Movement Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Center+, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konings
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, 6703HB Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, 6703HB Wageningen, the Netherlands; RPU Immunobiology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Willem M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: de Vos
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology and Movement Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Center+, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jogchum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004032:Diet; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010802:Phylogeny; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000097:blood; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010840:Phytosterols; D012855:Sitosterols; C407042:plant stanol ester; C021273:campesterol; D004247:DNA; D002784:Cholesterol; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Gut microbiota; Oxycholesterols; Oxyphytosterols; Plant stanols