Progress and perspectives in plant sterol and plant stanol research

Abstract

Current evidence indicates that foods with added plant sterols or stanols can lower serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This review summarizes the recent findings and deliberations of 31 experts in the field who participated in a scientific meeting in Winnipeg, Canada, on the health effects of plant sterols and stanols. Participants discussed issues including, but not limited to, the health benefits of plant sterols and stanols beyond cholesterol lowering, the role of plant sterols and stanols as adjuncts to diet and drugs, and the challenges involved in measuring plant sterols and stanols in biological samples. Variations in interindividual responses to plant sterols and stanols, as well as the personalization of lipid-lowering therapies, were addressed. Finally, the clinical aspects and treatment of sitosterolemia were reviewed. Although plant sterols and stanols continue to offer an efficacious and convenient dietary approach to cholesterol management, long-term clinical trials investigating the endpoints of cardiovascular disease are still lacking.

Increased Cellular Uptake of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Phytosterols from Natural Micellar Oil

“…In addition to stimulating the uptake of PUFAs into target cells, we showed that phospholipid-based emulsification is also effective in increasing the uptake of phytosterols from phytogenic oils. In enterocytes, phytosterol absorption is regulated via uptake by Niemann-Pick C1-like protein 1 (NPC1L1), a process that is counteracted by resecretion of phytosterols via an ATP-dependent transporter heterodimer formed by ABCG5 and ABCG8 [41,42]. Both cell lines used in our study to monitor phytosterol uptake express NPC1L1; however, its surface activity is much stronger in MDCK.2 cells than in Caco-2 cells [43].…”

Ensuring the future of functional foods

“…It has been 20 years since the first functional food product with a health claim was launched; spreads supplemented with plant sterol esters that had been shown to lower serum cholesterol by up to 12% (Baumgartner et al ., ; Jones et al ., ; Lestiani et al ., ). However, consumers want products that directly relate to them or their lifestyle that also may confer some health benefit.…”

“…Intervention strategies that may alleviate pathological conditions and control risk factors through dietary improvement and positive lifestyle changes have the potential to improve overall wellbeing. Plant sterols and stanols (Jones et al ., ); monacolin K (Castelnuovo et al ., ; Mazza et al ., ,b), red yeast rice (Cicero, ) and beta‐glucans (Stancu et al ., ; Suchecka et al ., ; Tamura et al ., ; Tessari & Lante, ), have been shown to reduce plasma cholesterol. Modification of plasma LDL‐cholesterol is causally associated with cardiovascular risk factors (Berryman et al ., ; Gisterå & Hansson, ; Poli et al ., ).…”

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: The Earlier the Better? A Review of Plant Sterol Metabolism and Implications of Childhood Supplementation

“…While plant sterols decrease the serum non-HDL cholesterol concentration, especially LDL-C, in general their intake does not affect other lipoproteins [38], although a reduction in fasting triglycerides was recently described [53]. The consumption of these compounds is generally described as safe [54], although one potential safety concern is the exposure to plant sterols in the rare inherited disorder called phytosterolemia (or sitosterolemia). This condition is caused by loss of function mutations in the ABCG5/8 heterodimer transporter, both in intestine and in liver, which leads to partial or complete failure of sterol efflux and consequently plant sterol accumulation in plasma and tissues [32].…”