title: Plant sterol ester diet supplementation increases serum plant sterols and markers of cholesterol synthesis, but has no effect on total cholesterol levels.
abstract: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over intervention-study was conducted in healthy volunteers to evaluate the effects of plant sterol ester supplemented margarine on cholesterol, non-cholesterol sterols and oxidative stress in serum and monocytes. Sixteen volunteers, average age 34 years, with no or mild hypercholesterolemia were subjected to a 4 week period of daily intake of 3g plant sterols per day supplied via a supplemented margarine on top of regular eating habits. After a wash-out period of one week, volunteers switched groups. Compared to placebo, a diet supplementation with plant sterols increased serum levels of plant sterols such as campesterol (+0.16±0.19mg/dL, p=0.005) and sitosterol (+0.27±0.18mg/dL, p<0.001) and increased markers of cholesterol synthesis such as desmosterol (+0.05±0.07mg/dL, p=0.006) as well as lathosterol (+0.11±0.16mg/dL, p=0.012). Cholesterol serum levels, however, were not changed significantly (+18.68±32.6mg/dL, p=0.052). These findings could not be verified in isolated circulating monocytes. Moreover, there was no effect on monocyte activation and no differences with regard to redox state after plant sterol supplemented diet. Therefore, in a population of healthy volunteers with no or mild hypercholesterolemia, consumption of plant sterol ester supplemented margarine results in increased concentrations of plant sterols and cholesterol synthesis markers without affecting total cholesterol in the serum, activation of circulating monocytes or redox state.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Kardiologie, Klinikum Oldenburg, European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany; Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany; Institut für Medizinische Biometrie, Epidemiologie und Medizinische Informatik, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany. Electronic address: oweingartner@aol.com.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Weingärtner
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Biophysik, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany; Department of Biophysics Faculty of Medicine CIPMM, Building 48, D-66421 Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bogeski
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Biophysik, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany; Department of Biophysics Faculty of Medicine CIPMM, Building 48, D-66421 Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kummerow
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie, Angiologie und internistische Intensivmedizin, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Schirmer
authors.affiliation: Institut für klinische Chemie und klinische Pharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Constanze
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Husche
authors.affiliation: Institut für klinische Chemie und klinische Pharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Dept. of Immunology and Biochemistry, BIOMED, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vanmierlo
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Kardiologie, Klinikum Oldenburg, European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany; Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie, Angiologie und internistische Intensivmedizin, Germany; Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany; Institut für Medizinische Biometrie, Epidemiologie und Medizinische Informatik, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany; Abteilung für Biophysik, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany; Institut für klinische Chemie und klinische Pharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wagenpfeil
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Biophysik, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany; Department of Biophysics Faculty of Medicine CIPMM, Building 48, D-66421 Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoth
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie, Angiologie und internistische Intensivmedizin, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.affiliation: Institut für klinische Chemie und klinische Pharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lütjohann
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie, Angiologie und internistische Intensivmedizin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Laufs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002469:Cell Separation; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008383:Margarine; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010840:Phytosterols; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012855:Sitosterols; C021273:campesterol; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; C001521:lathosterol; D008383:Margarine; D002784:Cholesterol; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Cholesterol; Margarine; Monocyte; Oxidation; Plant sterol