Cholesterol-lowering efficacy of plant sterols in low-fat yogurt consumed as a snack or with a meal.

Objective: Plant sterols (PS) consumed as a snack may not have the same cholesterol-lowering potential as when consumed with a meal due to poor solubilization. It was hypothesized that the consumption of a single dose, low-fat yogurt rich in PS (1.6 g/d) with a meal over an afternoon snack will lead to favourable changes in plasma lipids, plasma PS concentrations, and cholesterol synthesis without negatively affecting alpha-tocopherol or carotenoids levels.

Association between non-responsiveness to plant sterol intervention and polymorphisms in cholesterol metabolism genes: a case-control study.

Plant sterol (PS) consumption decreases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels; however, high variability of responsiveness of lipid levels to PS intervention has been observed. We hypothesized that common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes for the ATP binding cassette proteins G5 (ABCG5) and G8 (ABCG8), Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1), or other proteins of the cholesterol pathway, would underline inter-individual variations in response to PS. Twenty-six hyperlipidemic subjects completed a randomized trial of 3 PS phases and a control phase.

Plant sterol-enriched fermented milk enhances the attainment of LDL-cholesterol goal in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Background: The number of hypercholesterolemic individuals who do not meet their cholesterol recommended targets is inappropriately high. The use of plant sterol-enriched foods could help in this clinical setting.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of plant sterol-enriched fermented milk in reducing LDL-cholesterol and increasing the number of patients who attain their therapeutic targets.

Effect of low-fat, fermented milk enriched with plant sterols on serum lipid profile and oxidative stress in moderate hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Plant sterol (PS)-enriched foods have been shown to reduce plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations. In most studies, however, PSs were incorporated into food products of high fat content.

Objective: We examined the effect of daily consumption of PS-supplemented low-fat fermented milk (FM) on the plasma lipid profile and on systemic oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Lyophilized carrot ingestion lowers lipemia and beneficially affects cholesterol metabolism in cholesterol-fed C57BL/6J mice.

Background: Several lines of evidence indicate that diet rich in fruit and vegetable can protect against cardiovascular diseases by acting on cholesterol metabolism and on oxidative stress.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of this study was to assess whether daily carrot consumption (provided as lyophilized powder) could differentially influence the consequences of cholesterol supplementation on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in C57BL/6J mice.

Methods: Fourteen mice were randomized in four groups.

Health effect of vegetable-based diet: lettuce consumption improves cholesterol metabolism and antioxidant status in the rat.

Background & Aims: It is often assumed that fruits and vegetables contribute to protect against degenerative pathologies such as cardiovascular diseases. Besides epidemiological observations, scientific evidences for their mechanism of action are scarce. In the present study, we investigated the mean term and post-prandial effects of lettuce ingestion on lipid metabolism and antioxidant protection in the rat.

Dietary lignins are precursors of mammalian lignans in rats.

The mammalian lignans enterolactone (ENL) and enterodiol, commonly found in human plasma and urine, are phytoestrogens that may contribute to the prevention of breast cancer and coronary heart disease. They are formed by the conversion of dietary precursors such as secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol lignans by the colonic microflora. The identification of lignins, cell-wall polymers structurally related to lignans, as precursors of mammalian lignans is reported here for the first time.

Effect of carrot intake on cholesterol metabolism and on antioxidant status in cholesterol-fed rat.

Background: Vegetables are major dietary sources of fibers and antioxidants such as carotenoids, polyphenols and vitamin C which contribute to explain their protective effects against cardiovascular diseases.

Aim Of The Study: We investigated in the rat the effects of a 3-week supplementation of the diet with carrot (15% dry matter) on lipid metabolism and antioxidant status.

Results: A significant decrease of cholesterol level in liver (-44%; P= 0.

Mammalian lignan formation in rats fed a wheat bran diet.

The dietary origin of lignan phytoestrogens is still poorly understood more than 20 years after their discovery in human urine. Their level in urine has been associated with the consumption of dietary fiber. This paper reports the study of the excretion of enterolactone, assayed by a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay, in rats fed a diet supplemented with 15% wheat bran, one of the main sources of fiber in Western countries.