Lee Swanson Research Update

Plant-Sterol Enriched Dairy Products Lower Cholesterol

April 2006

plant sterols

Plant sterols added to dairy products reduce cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects, according to a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

In the parallel, double-blind study, 184 mildly to moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects were randomly divided into a plant sterol group and a control group. The subjects consumed yogurt and low-fat cheese with or without plant sterols (2 g/day) for six weeks after a three-week run-in period.

During the treatment period, the sterol group experienced a 6.5% and 10.4% reduction in serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), respectively and a 16.1% increase in the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) to LDL ratio.

The researchers concluded dairy products enriched with a plant sterol mixture reduced serum cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic subjects without adverse effects.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 60(3):325-333, 2006

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