Comparison of the effects of plant sterol ester and plant stanol ester-enriched margarines in lowering serum cholesterol concentrations in hypercholesterolaemic subjects on a low-fat diet

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000 Sep;54(9):715-25. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601083.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate cholesterol-lowering effects of stanol ester (STAEST) and sterol ester (STEEST)-enriched margarines as part of a low-fat diet.

Design: According to a Latin square model randomized double-blind repeated measures design with three test margarines and three periods.

Setting: Outpatient clinical trial with free-living subjects.

Subjects: Thirty-four hypercholesterolaemic subjects completed the study.

Interventions: Subjects consumed three rapeseed oil-based test margarines (STAEST, STEEST and control (no added stanols or sterols)) as part of a low-fat diet each for 4 weeks.

Results: Mean daily intake of total plant sterols plus stanols was 2.01-2.04 g during the two test margarine periods. In reference to control, serum total cholesterol was reduced by 9.2 and 7.3% with the STAEST and STEEST margarine, respectively (P<0.001 for both). The respective reductions for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were 12.7 and 10.4% (P<0. 001). The cholesterol-lowering effects of the test margarines did not differ significantly. The presence of apolipoprotein E4 allele had a significant effect on LDL cholesterol response during the STAEST margarine only. Serum sitosterol and campesterol increased by 0.83 and 2.77 mg/l with the STEEST (P<0.001), respectively and decreased by 1.18 and 2.60 mg/l with the STAEST margarine (P<0.001). Increases of serum sitostanol and campestanol were 0.11 and 0.19 mg/l with the STAEST margarine (P<0.001), repsectively. No significant changes were found in serum fat-soluble vitamin and carotenoid concentrations when related to serum total cholesterol.

Conclusions: STAEST and STEEST margarines reduced significantly and equally serum total and LDL cholesterol concentrations as part of a low-fat diet.

Sponsorship: Grant to the University of Kuopio by Raisio Benecol Ltd, Raisio, Finland.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Carotenoids / blood
  • Cholesterol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cholesterol / blood*
  • Diet, Fat-Restricted*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Esters
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / diet therapy*
  • Hypercholesterolemia / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Margarine*
  • Middle Aged
  • Phytosterols / administration & dosage
  • Phytosterols / blood
  • Phytosterols / therapeutic use*
  • Plant Oils / administration & dosage
  • Sitosterols / blood
  • Vitamin E / blood

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Esters
  • Phytosterols
  • Plant Oils
  • Sitosterols
  • Vitamin E
  • Carotenoids
  • campestanol
  • campesterol
  • Margarine
  • Cholesterol
  • stigmastanol