Effects of consuming a yogurt containing plant sterols, as part of a Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet, on blood lipids in men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

Objective was to assess the effects of an intervention involving TLC diet, including consumption of a plant sterol containing yogurt, on the fasting lipoprotein lipid profile and blood pressure in men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia. Study included men and women (n = 34), 40–69 yrs, with fasting LDL‐C of 130–210 mg/dL. At week 0, participants were instructed on the TLC diet and provided with yogurt to be consumed twice daily (0.6 g plant sterol/serving) for six weeks. Fasting lipids were measured at baseline (weeks ‐1 and 0) and weeks 2, 4, and 6. Participants were mostly female (73.5%) and of non‐Hispanic white ethnicity (91.2%) with a mean age of 52.7 yrs and BMI of 26.8. Significant reductions from baseline were observed for LDL‐C (−8.2 %; p < 0.001), TC (−6.9 %; p < 0.001), non‐ HDL‐C (−7.3 %; p < 0.001) and HDL‐C (−4.5 %; p = 0.023). Blood pressure decreased from 121.5/76.9 mm Hg at baseline to 116.1/74.6 mm Hg at the end of treatment (p < 0.03 for systolic and diastolic). The mean MEDFICTS score decreased from week 0 (53.7) to week 6 (32.4; p < 0.001), indicating compliance with the TLC diet. These results show that the TLC diet including consumption of yogurt containing plant sterols (1.2 g/day) was associated with improvements in total, LDL, and non‐HDL‐C and blood pressure in men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia.Funding: General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition, Minneapolis, MN.