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Plant Sterol-Enriched Spread Reduces Cholesterol Levels In Belgian Population

Daily intake of a low-fat spread enriched with plant sterols lowers total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels.

Regular consumption of the spread could help reduce the risk of heart disease, suggest investigators from the Department of Public Health at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, in Leuven, Belgium.

The investigators conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study in which 42 healthy men and women consumed 25 grams daily of two different low-fat spreads over two consecutive four-week periods. The subjects were of an average age of 55 years and had serum total cholesterol levels below 300 milligrams/deciliter (mg/dl).

One of the two spreads was enriched with a plant sterol content of 8.3 per cent. The other spread served as a placebo. Both spreads had a 35 per cent fat content.

After consumption of the plant sterol-enriched spread, serum total cholesterol was reduced by seven per cent (18 mg/dl) and LDL cholesterol was reduced by 10 per cent (16 mg/dl). Also, apolipoprotein B level was reduced by eight per cent (0.8 gram/liter) after consumption of the enriched spread.

High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I were not significantly changed by consumption of either spread.

The investigators conclude that the plant sterol-enriched spread is an effective means of reducing total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B.
Acta Cardiol 2002; 57(2): 111-115. "Effects of a plant sterol-enriched spread on serum lipids and lipoproteins in mildly hypercholesterolaemic subjects"

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