Short-term LDL cholesterol-lowering efficacy of plant stanol esters

Abstract

BackgroundThe short-term cholesterol-lowering efficacy of plant stanol esters has been open to debate, and the data from different clinical studies with hypercholesterolemic subjects are variable, partly due to lack of systematic studies. Therefore, we investigated the time in days needed to obtain the full cholesterol-lowering effect of stanol esters in hypercholesterolemic subjects.MethodsEleven mildly to moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects consumed stanol ester margarine (2.0 g/day of stanols) as a part of their habitual diet for 14 days and the changes in serum lipid values were measured three times at 4, 8 and 15 days after the initiation of test margarine consumption (0 day). The returning of serum lipid concentrations to baseline was measured two times after 2 or 3 days and after 7 days of the end of the test margarine consumption.ResultsSerum LDL cholesterol concentrations were reduced from 0 day (4.51 ± 0.66 mmol/l) by 3.5% (P = ns), 9.9% (p < 0.05) and 10.2% (P < 0.05) at 4, 8 and 15 days, respectively. Serum campesterol/total cholesterol ratio, an indirect marker of intestinal cholesterol absorption, was significantly reduced on day 4 already. After ending the stanol ester use serum cholesterol concentrations began to return rapidly and after 7 days serum LDL cholesterol was 5.3% less than the initial value (P = ns).ConclusionThe specific effect of plant stanol esters on serum LDL cholesterol can fully be obtained within 1–2 weeks of the use of plant stanol ester-enriched margarine.

Effects of low-fat hard cheese enriched with plant stanol esters on serum lipids and apolipoprotein B in mildly hypercholesterolaemic subjects

“…In earlier clinical studies, the ingestion of plant stanols for 4-7 weeks has reduced serum cholesterol levels significantly (Gylling and Miettinen, 1994;Gylling et al, 1995Gylling et al, , 1997Hallikainen et al, 2000a, b;Mensink et al, 2002). It has also been reported that the full cholesterol-lowering effect can be reached within 1-2 weeks with the use of plant stanol (Hallikainen et al, 2002;Mensink et al, 2002). In our study, the maximal reduction in cholesterol levels was also reached by the first measurement, that is, after 3 weeks of treatment, and the difference between the groups remained stable thereafter.…”

Plant sterol consumption frequency affects plasma lipid levels and cholesterol kinetics in humans

“…Most noticeably, a reduction in plasma LDL concentration was achieved after a relatively short intervention period. Previous studies have reported a reduction in cholesterol concentrations after 1 day (Miettinen et al, 2000), 8 days (Hallikainen et al, 2002) and 10 days (Jones et al, 1998b) of plant sterol/stanol consumption. However, the single-day study by Miettinen et al (2000) was carried out in colectomized individuals whose cholesterol metabolism differed from that of healthy individuals.…”

“…However, the single-day study by Miettinen et al (2000) was carried out in colectomized individuals whose cholesterol metabolism differed from that of healthy individuals. The 8-day study of Hallikainen et al (2002) lacked a control group, and the reduction in serum cholesterol concentrations by stanol ester consumption was relative to baseline values; thus a time effect could have contributed to the reduction in cholesterol concentrations. Although the duration of the present study was relatively short, plant sterol ester lowered LDL-cholesterol concentrations by 0.21 mmol/l (6%).…”

Beyond blood lipids: phytosterols, statins and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid therapy for hyperlipidemia

“…Due to the low affinity of ACAT for β-sitosterol in the liver, it has a greater secretion rate and higher hepatic clearance than campesterol [30]. In humans, β-sitosterol and campesterol concentrations are approximately 0.30 and 0.42 mg/dl, respectively, and when supplemented at 2-3 g/day, levels increase by 34% and 73%, respectively [31,32].…”