Effects of a plant sterol-enriched spread on serum lipids and lipoproteins in mildly hypercholesterolaemic subjects

Objective - In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study the effects of spreads enriched with plant sterols were determined on serum lipids, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein concentrations in a Belgian population. Methods - Fourty-two healthy adult volunteers (22 men and 20 women) with an average age of 55 (SD 9) years and with serum total cholesterol concentrations below 300 mg/dl, consumed during two consecutive periods of 4 weeks two different low-fat spreads. Both the plant sterol rich and control spreads contained 35% of fat and had an almost equal fat composition. The sterol content of the enriched spread was 8.3%. Intake of the spreads was 25 g/day. Results - Serum total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations lowered by 7% (18 mg/dl) and 10% (16 mg/dl), respectively, with the plant sterol-enriched compared to the control spread. Serum HDL-cholesterol concentration did not significantly differ between the two spreads. Apolipoprotein B concentrations lowered by 8% (0.08 g/l) with the plant sterol-enriched spread, while concentrations of apolipoprotein A-I did not change. Conclusion - These findings indicate that a daily intake of 25 gram low-fat spread containing 2 gram plant sterol per day is effective in lowering blood total and LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B concentrations. This lowering may help to reduce the risk of heart disease in the population.