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There is good evidence that plant stanol/sterol ester (i.e. found in Benecol or Flora pro.activ products) can reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This is the type of cholesterol associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Two new studies have developed this evidence base further.

 

Greek scientists compared the lipid-lowering effects of plant stanol ester with that of a Mediterranean diet. Patients with raised cholesterol levels (n=150), were randomly allocated to one of three diets; (1) regular cholesterol-lowering; (2) Mediterranean; (3) supplemented with 2g per day plant stanol ester. Blood lipid levels were studied before and after the 4-month intervention.

 

Subjects got the most benefit from the plant stanol ester and Mediterranean diets. LDL cholesterol levels reduced by 16% and the estimated risk of heart disease reduced by 26-30%. The authors concluded that people with high LDL cholesterol who are not eating a Mediterranean diet may benefit from using products containing plant stanol ester.

 

A second study tested three different levels of phytosterol to find out how much was required for a cholesterol-lowering effect. Eighteen subjects followed a standardised diet which was supplemented with 59 mg, 459 mg, or 2059 mg per day of phytosterol. Compared with the low phytosterol diet (59mg/day), cholesterol excretion increased by 36% with the 459 mg phytosterol diet and by 74% with the 2059 mg phytosterol diet. Blood levels ofLDL cholesterol reduced significantly only with the highestphytosterol diet. This suggests that, while benefits are seen at ½ g of phytosterol, at least 2g per day is needed before LDL cholesterol is significantly reduced.

 

For more information see: Athyros VG (2009) Nutrition Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases [Epub ahead of print] and Racette SB (2010) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol.91: pg 32-38.