beta-Sitosterol stimulates ceramide metabolism in differentiated Caco2 cells.

Previous studies from our laboratory on tumor cells suggest that phytosterols stimulate ceramide production, which was associated with cell growth inhibition and stimulation of apoptosis. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of phytosterols on ceramide metabolism in small intestinal cells that represent the first cells in contact with dietary phytosterols. Caco(2) cells, an accepted model for human intestinal epithelial cells, were used in this study.

Effects of various amounts of dietary plant sterol esters on plasma and hepatic sterol concentration and aortic foam cell formation of cholesterol-fed hamsters.

Dietary intake of plant sterol esters (PSE) lowers plasma LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), but can modestly increase plasma plant sterol concentrations. The objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of increasing doses of dietary PSE on plasma and liver sterol concentrations as well as on aortic foam cell development as a marker of atherogenesis. One-hundred and twenty F(1)B hybrid Syrian golden hamsters (20 per group) were fed a basal atherogenic diet containing 30% of energy as fat and 0.

A spread enriched with plant sterol-esters lowers blood cholesterol and lipoproteins without affecting vitamins A and E in normal and hypercholesterolemic Japanese men and women.

The objective of the study was to investigate whether different initial baseline cholesterol levels modulate the efficacy of a spread enriched with plant sterol-esters (PS) in lowering blood cholesterol in a Japanese population consuming their usual diet. Healthy adults with a mean age of 45 y and mean plasma total cholesterol (TC) level of 6.5 mmol/L were recruited to participate in a double-blind trial comprised of a run-in period of 1 wk, followed by two intervention periods of 3 wks in a 2 x 2 crossover design and a post-trial follow-up of 3 wk.

Plant sterol ester-enriched spread lowers plasma total and LDL cholesterol in children with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Naturally occurring plant sterol esters (SEs) favorably affect serum cholesterol concentrations in humans and could aid in the treatment of children with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

Objective: We studied the effect of SE-enriched spread on serum lipids, lipoproteins, carotenoids, fat-soluble vitamins, and physiologic variables in children with FH aged 7-12 y.

Design: In a randomized, double-blind crossover study comprising two 8-wk interventions, 38 children with FH consumed 18.

No changes in serum fat-soluble vitamin and carotenoid concentrations with the intake of plant sterol/stanol esters in the context of a controlled diet.

Spreads enriched with plant sterol and stanol esters have been shown to possess similar cholesterol-lowering properties; however, their comparative capacity to alter circulating levels of other fat-soluble compounds has not been fully assessed. To compare actions of sterol and stanol ester consumption on serum fat-soluble vitamin and carotenoid concentrations, 15 hypercholesterolemic subjects were fed each of 3 fixed foods treatment diets over 21 days using a randomized crossover controlled design. Diets contained either (1) margarine (M), (2) margarine with sterol esters (MSE; 1.

A healthy diet rich in carotenoids is effective in maintaining normal blood carotenoid levels during the daily use of plant sterol-enriched spreads.

Blood cholesterol levels are affected by diet and in particular by the type and amount of fat intake. In recent years, vegetable oil spreads containing plant sterols/stanols (as their fatty acid esters) have been developed. Numerous clinical trials on spreads with added plant sterols/stanols have shown that they have much greater cholesterol-lowering properties than conventional vegetable oil spreads.