Nutrition Communications
Dr Carrie Ruxton
Browse the site...
Latest news...
- Tea and hydration
25th Aug 2010 - Sugary drinks and appetite
25th Aug 2010 - Prawns and cholesterol
25th Aug 2010 - Latest on vitamin D
25th Aug 2010 - Prebiotics and bowel health
25th Aug 2010 - Popular slimming diets low in nutrients
11th Jul 2010 - More news...
News
You are here: Home / News / Higher dose plant stanol ester safe and effective
11th Jul 2010
Higher dose plant stanol ester safe and effective
Currently the EU advises that intakes of plant stanol esters (added to a certain brand of margarines) should not exceed 2-3g per day. Now, a new study has shown that higher intakes are better at lowering cholesterol and do not seem to affect fat-soluble antioxidants, as previously believed.
Scientists recruited 93 participants with slightly elevated cholesterol levels. After a 3-week run-in period, they ate either control foods, or margarines and soy yoghurts containing 3g, 6g or 9g plant stanols over 4-weeks.
Results showed that eating up to 9g plant stanols each day reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 17% without affecting plasma fat-soluble antioxidants. Additional research is needed to reconfirm these findings but EU guidelines may currently be too low.
For more information see: Mensink RP et al. (2010) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 92(1), pg 24-33.
Scientists recruited 93 participants with slightly elevated cholesterol levels. After a 3-week run-in period, they ate either control foods, or margarines and soy yoghurts containing 3g, 6g or 9g plant stanols over 4-weeks.
Results showed that eating up to 9g plant stanols each day reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 17% without affecting plasma fat-soluble antioxidants. Additional research is needed to reconfirm these findings but EU guidelines may currently be too low.
For more information see: Mensink RP et al. (2010) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 92(1), pg 24-33.