Serum lipid responses to phytosterol-enriched milk in a moderate hypercholesterolemic population is not affected by apolipoprotein E polymorphism or diameter of LDL particles

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition 2010-11
• Main Authors: Hernández-Mijares, Antonio, Bañuls, Celia, Martínez-Triguero, Maria Luisa, López-Ruiz, Antonio, Morillas, Carlos, Jarabo, Maria Monte, Bellod, Lorena, Víctor, Víctor Manuel, Rocha, Milagros
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2010.241

Background: The importance of both LDLc size and the apolipoprotein E (Apo E) in the atherogenic process is known, but there is little information regarding the effect of phytosterols (PS) on these parameters. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of PS on lipid profile and LDLc size according to Apo E genotype. Subjects and methods: This was a randomized parallel trial employing 75 mild-hypercholesterolemic subjects and consisting of two 3-month intervention phases. After 3 months receiving a standard healthy diet, subjects were divided into two intervention groups: a diet group (n=34) and a diet+PS group (n=41) that received 2 g/day of PS. Total cholesterol (TC), triacilglycerols, LDLc, HDLc, non-HDLc, apolipoproteins (Apo) A-I and B-100, LDLc size and Apo E genotype were determined. Results: Patients receiving PS exhibited a significant decrease in TC (5.1%), LDLc (8.1%), non-HDLc (7.4%) and Apo B-100/Apo A-I ratio (7.7%), but these effects did not depend on Apo E genotype. No significant changes were found in lipid profile according to Apo E genotype when patients following dietary recommendations were considered as a whole population or separately. No variations in LDLc size were observed in any of the intervention groups. Conclusions: The results of the present study show that Apo E genotype does not have an impact on the lipid response to PS as a cholesterol-lowering agent in mild-hypercholesterolemic patients. Furthermore, the evidence obtained confirms that LDLc particle size is not modified when PS are added to a standard healthy diet.