Similar serum plant sterol responses of human subjects heterozygous for a mutation causing sitosterolemia and controls to diets enriched in plant sterols or stanols

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jul;61(7):896-905. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602598. Epub 2007 Jan 17.

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the serum phytosterol responses of heterozygous relatives of sitosterolemia patients to diets enriched in phytosterols or stanols.

Design: Randomized double-blind crossover design.

Setting: Muenster, Germany.

Subjects: Eight heterozygous and 13 control subjects were recruited. One heterozygote and three controls dropped out.

Interventions: Seven heterozygotes and 10 controls received daily portions of margarine containing 2 g of plant sterols, 2 g of stanols or a control margarine for 6 weeks each in a randomized order. These phases were intercepted by wash-out periods of 6 weeks each.

Results: Compared to the control period, serum phytosterol concentrations increased overall by more than 20% when subjects consumed the plant sterol margarine (F((1,15))=8.719, P=0.01), with no significant difference between heterozygotes (mean +14.5 (s.d. 17.2) micromol/l, +23.0%) and controls (+4.9 (9.9) micromol/l, +20.5%; F((1,15))=2.168, P=0.162), but decreased when subjects consumed the stanol-enriched margarine (F((1,15))=12.124, P=0.003), again to a similar extent in heterozygotes (-34.2 (41.2) micromol/l, -54.2%) and controls (-12.2 (9.2) micromol/l, -50.6%; F((1,15))=2.729, P=0.119). The lowest total serum concentrations of cholesterol and phytosterols were seen after the diet enriched in stanols. Serum stanol concentrations increased on this diet, but on a very low level and never exceeded 0.05% of serum cholesterol levels in any subject.

Conclusions: Serum phytosterol concentrations increased only moderately in heterozygotes consuming a diet enriched in phytosterols, indicating that they retained considerable capacity to excrete phytosterols even at higher intakes.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / blood*
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Esters
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Margarine*
  • Phytosterols* / administration & dosage
  • Phytosterols* / blood
  • Sitosterols / administration & dosage
  • Sitosterols / blood*
  • Sterols / administration & dosage
  • Sterols / blood

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Esters
  • Phytosterols
  • Sitosterols
  • Sterols
  • Margarine
  • Cholesterol