Simultaneous Intake of β-Glucan and Plant Stanol Esters Affects Lipid Metabolism in Slightly Hypercholesterolemic Subjects

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 137; no. 3; pp. 583 - 588
• Main Authors: Theuwissen, Elke, Mensink, Ronald P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The American Society for Nutrition 01.03.2007
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; beta-glucans; beta-Glucans - administration & dosage; bile acids; Bile Acids and Salts - biosynthesis; blood lipids; cholesterol; Cholesterol - metabolism; Cross-Over Studies; esters; Female; food intake; functional foods; high density lipoprotein; Humans; hypercholesterolemia; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Hypercholesterolemia - diet therapy; Hypercholesterolemia - metabolism; intestinal absorption; lipid metabolism; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Lipids - blood; Lipoproteins - blood; low density lipoprotein; Male; men; Middle Aged; Phytosterols - administration & dosage; plant stanols; synergism; triacylglycerols; women
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/137.3.583

Intake of food products rich in water-soluble fiber β-glucan and products enriched with plant stanol esters lower serum cholesterol. Combining 2 functional food ingredients into one food product may achieve additional reductions of serum cholesterol. Our objective was to investigate the effects of a simultaneous intake of β-glucan plus plant stanol esters on lipid metabolism in mildly hypercholesterolemic volunteers. In a randomized, controlled, 3-period crossover study, 40 mildly hypercholesterolemic men and women received muesli in random order twice a day for 4 wk, which provided, in total, 5 g control fiber from wheat (control muesli), 5 g oat β-glucan (β-glucan muesli), or 5 g oat β-glucan plus 1.5 g plant stanols (combination muesli). β-Glucan muesli decreased serum LDL cholesterol by 5.0% compared with control muesli (P = 0.013). Combination muesli reduced LDL cholesterol by 9.6% compared with control muesli (P < 0.001), and by 4.4% compared with β-glucan muesli (P = 0.036). Serum HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations did not differ after the 3 treatments. Compared with control muesli, β-glucan muesli increased bile acid synthesis (P = 0.043) and decreased cholesterol absorption (P = 0.011). Addition of plant stanols did not influence bile acid synthesis but decreased cholesterol absorption (P < 0.001) and raised cholesterol synthesis (P = 0.016) compared with control muesli, and the plant stanols decreased cholesterol absorption compared with β-glucan muesli (P = 0.004). The combination muesli decreased serum concentrations of sitostanol compared with control muesli (P = 0.010). Plasma concentrations of lipid-soluble antioxidants did not differ after the 3 treatments. β-Glucan muesli effectively lowered serum LDL cholesterol concentrations. The addition of plant stanol esters to β-glucan-enriched muesli further lowered serum LDL cholesterol, although effects were slightly less than predicted.