X-Message-Number: 23288
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 09:15:47 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: 2.84% sterol esters in diet eliminates foam cells

Atherosclerosis. 2003 Jul;169(1):41-50
Effects of various amounts of dietary plant sterol esters on plasma and
hepatic sterol concentration and aortic foam cell formation of
cholesterol-fed hamsters.

	Dietary intake of plant sterol esters (PSE) lowers plasma
LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), but can modestly increase plasma plant sterol
concentrations. The objective of the present study was to investigate the
impact of increasing doses of dietary PSE on plasma and liver sterol
concentrations as well as on aortic foam cell development as a marker of
atherogenesis. One-hundred and twenty F(1)B hybrid Syrian golden hamsters
(20 per group) were fed a basal atherogenic diet containing 30% of energy
as fat and 0.12% (w/w) cholesterol and supplemented with 0, 0.24, 0.48,
0.96, 1.92 and 2.84% (w/w) PSE. After 12 weeks, plasma total cholesterol
(TC) and LDL-C were significantly lower in the groups fed PSE compared
with control. Plasma plant sterol concentrations increased with
increasing dietary PSE intake up to the dietary level of 1.92% and then
reached a plateau. On the other hand, hepatic campesterol and sitosterol
concentrations plateaued at 0.24% PSE. Foam cell presence in the aortic
arch showed an inverse relationship with dietary PSE intake (P<0.0001).
Lipid-filled foam cell areas of hamsters receiving 0.24, 0.48 or 2.84%
PSE were approximately 70, 90 and 100% smaller than in control hamsters
fed no PSE. In summary, dietary PSE lowered plasma TC and LDL-C. Despite
an increase in plasma plant sterol concentrations they did not contribute
to aortic foam cell development. In fact dietary PSE significantly
inhibited aortic foam cell formation. This study supports the concept that
PSE through their cholesterol-lowering action prevent development of
atherogenesis in this animal model.

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