Serum and lipoprotein sitostanol and non-cholesterol sterols after an acute dose of plant stanol ester on its long-term consumption

Purpose

Chronic inhibition of cholesterol absorption with large doses of plant stanol esters (staest) alters profoundly cholesterol metabolism, but it is unknown how an acute inhibition with a large staest dose alters the postprandial serum and lipoprotein cholesterol precursor, plant sterol, and sitostanol contents.

Methods

Hypercholesterolemic subjects, randomly and double-blind divided into control (n?=?18) and intervention groups (n?=?20), consumed experimental diet without and with staest (plant stanols 8.8?g/day) for 10?weeks. Next morning after a fasting blood sample (0 h), the subjects had a breakfast without or with staest (4.5?g of plant stanols). Blood sampling was repeated 4?h later. Lipoproteins were separated with ultracentrifugation, and sterols were measured with gas–liquid chromatography.

Results

In 0-h chylomicrons and VLDL, plant sterols were lower in staest than in controls. Postprandially, cholestenol (cholesterol synthesis marker) was reduced in chylomicrons in staest compared with controls (?0.13?±?0.04?μg/dL vs. 0.01?±?0.08?μg/dL, P?P?Conclusions Chronic cholesterol absorption inhibition with large amount of plant stanol esters decreases plant sterols in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Acute plant stanol ester consumption increases sitostanol content in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins but suggests to decrease the risk of plant sterol and plant stanol accumulation into vascular wall by chylomicrons.