The lowering of plasma cholesterol by sucrose polyester in subjects consuming diets with 800, 300, or less than 50 mg of cholesterol per day1–2

Abstract

The efficacy, safety, acceptability, and cholesterol lowering potential of sucrose polyester (SPE), a liquid, nonabsorbable, fat-like material were assessed in normolipidemic men. In the first phase of the study, the subjects consumed for 10 days a basal diet that contained 800 mg of cholesterol per day (P/S = 0.4), or 300 mg of cholesterol (P/S = 1.0), or for 21 days a basal diet that contained less than 50 mg of cholesterol (P/S = 1.5). Subsequently over three consecutive periods of 10 days each 8, 16, or 25 g of liquid SPE or 19, 38, or 62 g of an 80/20 mixture of SPE and completely hydrogenated palm oil (HPO) was added daily to these same diets. Every treatment group but one showed at least a nominal decrease in plasma total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Though not all of these decreases were statistically significant, all 24 of the subjects showed a decrease in both of these plasma components on at least one of the dosages of SPE. The lowering was observed whether the daily diet of the subjects contained 800, 300, or less than 50 mg of cholesterol, and whether the SPE was added as such or together with HPO. Using 25 g of liquid SPE or 62 g of the SPE/HPO mixture, mean group low density lipoprotein cholesterol was lowered by 10 to 19% with significant reductions on all three levels of cholesterol intake. A similar pattern of change was seen in the levels of plasma vitamin A and E. Plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were not changed. These responses of the plasma lipids are like those seen earlier with SPE that was a semisolid. Neither preparation resulted in any untoward effects, although the subjects preferred the mouth-feel of the liquid material that was used in this study. The vegetable oil-like culinary properties of liquid SPE should facilitate adherence to a regimen that includes this apparently safe and effective cholesterol-lowering agent.