The disorder Phytoterolemia is characterized by 50fold elevations in plasma plant sterol levels as well as tendon xanthomas and premature coronary heart disease.1 On pathological examination the xanthomas and arteries of these patients contain plant sterols.2 This has raised questions of whether plant sterols are proatherogenic and whether the “normal” variation of plasma plant sterol levels in...

Plant sterol-enriched foods are an effective dietary adjuvant in reducing cardiovascular risk by lowering total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in serum by up to approximately 15%. The mechanism of action of plant sterols is different from those of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A inhibitors (statins) and thus their effect is additive. Combining plant sterols wi...

The 24 hr sterol excretion from the entire skin surface was determined in six normal and five hypercholesterolemic (Type II) patients fed a controlled, eucaloric diet containing 400 mg of plant sterols. All subjects received radiolabeled cholesterol intravenously in order to measure cholesterol turnover and exchange. The 24 hr skin surface lipids were collected subsequently at intervals of 7-10...

The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of consumption of a yoghurt-based drink enriched with 1-2 g plant sterols/d on serum lipids, transaminases, vitamins and hormone status in patients with primary moderate hypercholesterolaemia. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: a low-fat low-lactose yoghurt-based drink enriched with 1 g plant sterol ...

There is an ongoing discussion as to whether elevated serum plant sterol concentrations increase cardiovascular risk or not. Inherent to this question is whether the suggested beneficial effects of lowering serum LDL-cholesterol concentrations after consumption of plant sterol-enriched products are counteracted by increased serum concentrations of ‘potentially’ atherogenic plant sterols (sitost...

The sterol content and composition of the small intestinal muccsa has been studied in the rat, guinea pig, and rabbit. In the three species, noncholesterol sterols formed a large proportion of the total sterol content. In the rat, the contribution due to plant sterols was much smaller than in the guinea pig and rabbit, but in all three species the amount of campesterol present seemed disproport...

A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled and crossover study was conducted to simultaneously measure the effects, 3 h after consumption and after 4-wk daily exposure to plant sterols-enriched food product, on in vivo nitrite and nitrate production in healthy adults. Eighteen healthy participants (67% female, 35.3 [mean] ± 9.5 [SD] years, mean body mass index 22.8 kg/m2 ) received 2 soy ...

While many factors are involved in the etiology of cancer, it has been clearly established that diet significantly impacts one's risk for this disease. More recently, specific food components have been identified which are uniquely beneficial in mitigating the risk of specific cancer subtypes. Plant sterols are well known for their effects on blood cholesterol levels, however research into thei...

1. Miettinen TA, Railo M, Lepäntalo M, Gylling H. Plant sterols in serum and in atherosclerosis plaques of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;45:1749–801. 2. Miettinen TA, Gylling H. Effect of statins on noncholesterol sterol levels: implications for use of plant stanols and sterols. Am J Cardiol 2005;96:40D–6D. 3. De Jongh S, Lilien MR, op’t Roodt J, Stroes ES, ...

1. Miettinen TA, Railo M, Lepäntalo M, Gylling H. Plant sterols in serum and in atherosclerosis plaques of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;45:1749–801. 2. Miettinen TA, Gylling H. Effect of statins on noncholesterol sterol levels: implications for use of plant stanols and sterols. Am J Cardiol 2005;96:40D–6D. 3. De Jongh S, Lilien MR, op’t Roodt J, Stroes ES, ...