Korean Circ J.  2001 Oct;31(10):1027-1033. 10.4070/kcj.2001.31.10.1027.

The effect of plant sterol on serum cholesterol in patients with hypercholesterolemia

• Shin MJ
• Rim SJ
• Jang Y
• Choi D
• Kang SM
• Cho SY
• Kim SS
• Kim D
• Song K
• Chung N

• KMID: 2029589
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2001.31.10.1027

Abstract

BACKGROUND
AND OBJECT: Phytosterols(Plant sterols) have been known to reduce serum cholesterol concentrations by inhibiting absorption of both dietary and biliary cholesterol from the small intestines. However, the hypocholesterolemic effect of plant sterols has not been evaluated in Korea. We investigated the effect of plant sterol containing beverage on blood lipid profiles in the hypercholesterolemic patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty-five hypercholesterolemic patients(fasting LDL-cholesterol>130 mg/dl) were fed either a placebo beverage for 4 weeks or a test beverage containing plant sterols or 8 weeks in a single-blind, randomized cross-over study. The subjects were instructed to maintain the same amount of dietary intake of fat and cholesterol during the study. After 4 week treatment of plant sterols, the dose of plant sterols was doubled (3.2 g/d) for subjects whose LDL-cholesterol reduction rate was not reached by 15%.
RESULTS
1. The total study population who completed the whole protocol was 45 patients(15 males, 30 females, mean age 56). 2. At baseline, the mean dietary intake of saturated fat of subjects was 11.12 g, and cholesterol was 135.2 mg. 3. After 8 week treatment with plant sterols, serum concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were significantly reduced by 4.38%(p= 0.039), 8.28%(p=0.036) respectively. However, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride did not change significantly. 4. Two-thirds of the subjects responded to treatment with plant sterols, and the mean reduction rates in LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol of those subjects were 14.1% and 9.2% respectively.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that plant sterols reduce serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations significantly. These results suggest that plant sterols are also effective for those with low cholesterol intake.

Keyword

Phytosterols; Cholesterol; Lipoproteins; LDL Cholesterol

MeSH Terms

Absorption
Beverages
Cholesterol*
Cholesterol, LDL
Cross-Over Studies
Female
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia*
Intestine, Small
Korea
Lipoproteins
Male
Phytosterols
Plants*
Triglycerides
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, LDL
Lipoproteins
Phytosterols