Abstract
It has been suggested that phytosterol and phytostanol esters possess similar cholesterol-lowering properties, however, whether mechanisms responsible are identical has not been addressed. To address this question, cholesterol plasma levels, absorption, biosynthesis, and turnover were measured in 15 hypercholesterolemic subjects consuming prepared diets each over 21 d using a crossover design. Diets contained either i) margarine (M), ii) margarine with phytosterol esters (MSE) (1.84 g/d), or iii) margarine with phytostanol esters (MSA) (1.84 g/d). Cholesterol absorption was measured using the ratio of [13C]cholesteroloral:D7-cholesterolIV; biosynthesis using D incorporation from D2O and turnover by D7-cholesterolIV decay rates. Plasma total cholesterol level at d 21/22 was lower (P < 0.05) for MSE (13.4%) but not MSA (10.2%) versus M (6.0%) diets. Plasma low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) mean reductions at d 21/22 were larger (P < 0.05) for MSE (12.9%) and MSA (7.9%) compared with M (3.9%). Plasma TG and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels did not differ across diets. Cholesterol absorption was reduced (P < 0.05) 36.2 and 25.9% at d 21 for MSE and MSA versus M, while cholesterol biosynthesis was reciprocally increased (P < 0.05) 53.3 and 37.8% for MSE and MSA versus M, respectively. Cholesterol turnover was not influenced by diet.These data indicate that plant sterol and stanol esters differentially lower circulating total and LDL cholesterol levels by suppression of cholesterol absorption in hypercholesterolemic subjects.—Jones, P. J., M. Raeini-Sarjaz, F. Y. Ntanios, C. A. Vanstone, J. Y. Feng, and W. E. Parsons. Modulation of plasma lipid levels and cholesterol kinetics by phytosterol versus phytostanol esters. J. Lipid Res. 2000. 41: 697–705.
Highlights
It has been suggested that phytosterol and phytostanol esters possess similar cholesterol-lowering properties, whether mechanisms responsible are identical has not been addressed
The current study examined the effect of feeding esterified plant sterols and stanols in margarine mixtures on sterol metabolism in hyperlipidemic males consuming prepared, Abbreviations: low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol; high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol; M, margarine diet; MSE, margarine ϩ phytosterol esters diet; MSA, margarine ϩ phytostanol esters diet; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride; RBC, red blood cells; Fractional synthesis rate (FSR), fractional synthesis rate
This study shows for the first time that, under controlled dietary conditions, plant sterols possess improved efficacy in reducing plasma total and LDL-C concentrations compared with stanol esters at the level of intake presently utilized
Summary
It has been suggested that phytosterol and phytostanol esters possess similar cholesterol-lowering properties, whether mechanisms responsible are identical has not been addressed. This earlier data from animals suggest that efficacy of cholesterol-lowering action increases with the extent of hydrogenation of the phytosterol mixture For this reason, the aim of the present investigation was to re-examine whether margarines containing esters of unsaturated plant sterols possess the same efficacy as those containing esters of saturated plant sterols in the modification of circulating lipoprotein cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects. The secondary objective was to determine whether alterations in cholesterol absorption, turnover, or synthesis could account for any relative actions of esters of unsaturated versus saturated plant sterols on circulatory lipid levels To achieve this aim, the current study examined the effect of feeding esterified plant sterols and stanols in margarine mixtures on sterol metabolism in hyperlipidemic males consuming prepared, Abbreviations: LDL-C, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol; M, margarine diet; MSE, margarine ϩ phytosterol esters diet; MSA, margarine ϩ phytostanol esters diet; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride; RBC, red blood cells; FSR, fractional synthesis rate. The null hypothesis was that feeding the margarine alone, versus that with added plant sterol or stanol esters, to mildly hyperlipidemic subjects for 3 weeks would not influence their plasma lipid profiles, cholesterol absorption, turnover, or synthesis, nor plasma phytosterol levels
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
