Use of plant stanol ester margarine among persons with and without cardiovascular disease: early phases of the adoption of a functional food in Finland.

Meri Simojoki,Hannu Rita,Pekka Puska,John D Boice,Antti Uutela,Riitta Luoto,Joseph K Mclaughlin

doi:10.1186/1475-2891-4-20

Abstract

BackgroundThe plant stanol ester margarine Benecol® is a functional food that has been shown to lower effectively serum total and LDL-cholesterol. The purpose of this post-marketing study is to characterize users of plant stanol ester margarine with and without cardiovascular disease.MethodsA cohort of plant stanol ester margarine users was established based on a compilation of 15 surveys conducted by the National Public Health Institute in Finland between 1996–2000. There were 29 772 subjects aged 35–84 years in the cohort. The users of plant stanol ester margarine were identified by the type of bread spread used.ResultsThe plant stanol ester margarine was used as bread spread by 1332 (4.5%) subjects. Almost half (46%) of the users reported a history of cardiovascular disease. Persons with cardiovascular disease were more likely to use plant stanol ester margarine (8%) than persons without cardiovascular disease (3%). Users with and without cardiovascular disease seemed to share similar characteristics.In particular, they were elderly people with otherwise healthy life-styles and diet. They were less likely smokers, more likely physically active and less likely obese than nonusers. The users reported being in good or average health in general and having used cholesterol-lowering drugs.ConclusionPlant stanol ester margarine seems to be used by persons for whom it was designed and in a way it was meant: as part of efforts for cardiovascular disease risk reduction.

Highlights

Functional foods are becoming increasingly available to consumers worldwide
As the health effects of long-term use of functional foods are often unknown, there is a need for post-marketing research [2,3,4]
Use of plant sterol ester margarine is recommended, as part of a healthy diet, by the Finnish Society for Internal Medicine for the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in Finland [7]

Summary

Introduction

Functional foods are becoming increasingly available to consumers worldwide. A food can be regarded as "functional" if it has beneficial effects on one or more target functions in the body, beyond obvious nutritional effects, that are related to either an improved state of health and well-being and/or a reduction of disease risk [1]. The plant stanol ester margarine Benecol® (Raisio Group, Raisio, Finland), launched in Finland in 1995, is an example of a functional food that has been shown to lower effectively serum total and LDL-cholesterol levels in several interventions [5,6]. Use of plant sterol ester margarine is recommended, as part of a healthy diet, by the Finnish Society for Internal Medicine for the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in Finland [7]. The plant stanol ester margarine Benecol® is a functional food that has been shown to lower effectively serum total and LDL-cholesterol. The purpose of this post-marketing study is to characterize users of plant stanol ester margarine with and without cardiovascular disease

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Conclusion