Red cell and plasma plant sterols are related during consumption of plant stanol and sterol ester spreads in children with hypercholesterolemia

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics 2003-05, Vol.142 (5), p.524-531
• Main Authors: Ketomäki, Anna M., Gylling, Helena, Antikainen, Marjatta, Siimes, Martti A., Miettinen, Tatu A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - drug effects; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - drug effects; Cross-Over Studies; Disorders of blood lipids. Hyperlipoproteinemia; Double-Blind Method; Erythrocytes - metabolism; Female; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Male; Margarine; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Phytosterols - blood; Phytosterols - pharmacology; Sitosterols - blood; Sitosterols - pharmacology; Time Factors; Triglycerides - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1067/mpd.2003.193

Objective To show whether the ratios of squalene and cholesterol precursor sterols to cholesterol and cholestanol and plant sterols to cholesterol change differently in plasma and especially in the red cells of hypercholesterolemic children during consumption of plant stanol and sterol ester spreads. Study design In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, hypercholesterolemic children (n = 23) consumed low-fat plant stanol and sterol ester spreads for 5-week periods separated by a 5-week washout period. Plasma and red cell lipids, squalene, and noncholesterol sterols were measured before and at the end of each period. Results The plant stanol and sterol ester spreads lowered plasma total (−9% and −6%, respectively) and low-density lipoprotein (−12% and −9%) cholesterol but had no effect on red cell cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or plasma triglycerides. The ratios of plasma and red cell sitosterol and campesterol to cholesterol decreased by 32% to 36% (P