Fatty acid moieties have little effect on cholesterol‐lowering potency of plant sterol esters

Abstract

Plant sterol esters are the popular cholesterol‐lowering dietary supplements. In order to understand the role of fatty acid moieties in the cholesterol‐lowering activity of plant sterol esters, the present study was to: (i) compare the cholesterol‐lowering activity of sterol esters of sunflower oil (SSF) with that of sterol esters of canola oil (SCO); and (ii) to systematically investigate the effect of SSF and SCO on the gene expression of sterol transporters, enzymes, receptors and proteins involved in cholesterol metabolism in hamsters fed a high cholesterol diet. GC analysis showed that SSF and SCO had similar sterol profile but they had different fatty acid moieties. Results showed both SSF and SCO could equally reduce plasma cholesterol in a dose‐dependent manner. Both SSF and SCO could inhibit the cholesterol absorption and enhance the excretion of bile acids. In the similar ways, dietary SSF and SCO could up‐regulate hepatic cholesterol‐7α‐hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and down‐regulate intestinal sterol transporter Niemann‐Pick C1‐like 1 (NPC1L1), acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase 2 (ACAT2) and hepatic 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA reductase (HMG‐CoA reductase). It was concluded that the fatty acid moieties had little effect on the cholesterol‐lowering activity of SSF and SCO.Practical applications: Plant sterols are effective in reducing plasma cholesterol. Commercially, plant sterol esters of sunflower oil and plant sterol esters of canola oil are mostly used for this purpose. The present study found that SSF and SCO were equally effective in reducing plasma cholesterol in a dose‐dependent manner regardless the significant difference in their fatty acid compositions.Fatty acid moieties have little effect on cholesterol‐lowering potency of plant sterol esters.