Evaluation of cardiovascular risk and oxidative stress parameters in hypercholesterolemic subjects on a standard healthy diet including low-fat milk enriched with plant sterols

• Published in: The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 2010-09, Vol.21 (9), p.881-886
• Main Authors: Bañuls, Celia, Martínez-Triguero, María L., López-Ruiz, Antonio, Morillas, Carlos, Lacomba, Ramon, Víctor, Víctor M., Rocha, Milagros, Hernández-Mijares, Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Animals; Antioxidant status; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Carotenoids; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - diet therapy; Hypercholesterolemia - metabolism; LDL oxidation; Lipid peroxidation; Middle Aged; Milk - metabolism; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Phytosterols - pharmacology; Plant sterols; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0955-2863; 1873-4847
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2009.07.001

A healthy diet and plant sterols (PS) are recommended for reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and, subsequently, the risk of premature cardiovascular disease. PS mediate a decrease in fat-soluble vitamin concentration, which can lead to a general impairment of antioxidative defenses and an increase in oxidative stress. Thus, we evaluated the effects of a healthy diet, including PS-enriched low-fat milk, on cardiovascular risk and oxidative stress parameters in hypercholesterolemic subjects. This was a randomized parallel trial employing 40 subjects and consisting of two 3-month intervention phases. After 3 months on a standard healthy diet, subjects were divided into two intervention groups: a diet group and a diet+PS group (2 g/day). Lipid profile, apolipoproteins, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and oxidative stress parameters were analyzed. Diet significantly reduced total and LDL cholesterol (4.0% and 4.7%, respectively), produced an increase in the level of β-carotene (23%) and improved the antioxidant capacity of LDL cholesterol particles (4.6%). PS induced a significant decrease in total cholesterol (6.4%), LDL (9.9%) and the apolipoprotein B100/apolipoprotein A1 ratio (4.9%), but led to a decrease in cryptoxanthin level (29%) without any change being observed in the antioxidant capacity of LDL cholesterol particles, total antioxidant status or lipid peroxidation. After 3 months, we observed the positive effect of including a PS supplement in dietary measures, as the lipoprotein-mediated risk of cardiovascular disease was reduced. Despite a decrease in the concentration of cryptoxanthin, no evidence of a global impairment of antioxidative defenses or an enhancement of oxidative stress parameters was found.