Consumption of oat β-glucan with or without plant stanols did not influence inflammatory markers in hypercholesterolemic subjects

• Published in: Molecular nutrition & food research Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 370 - 376
• Main Authors: Theuwissen, Elke, Plat, Jogchum, Mensink, Ronald P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley-VCH Verlag 01.03.2009; WILEY-VCH Verlag; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Adult; atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis - genetics; Avena - chemistry; beta-Glucans - administration & dosage; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; cholesteremic effect; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary Fiber - administration & dosage; Double-Blind Method; esters; Female; gene expression; Gene Expression - drug effects; gene expression regulation; genes; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Hs-CRP; Human atherosclerosis PCR array; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Inflammation - blood; Interleukin-1 - blood; Interleukin-8 - blood; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - drug effects; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology; low density lipoprotein; Male; metabolism; Middle Aged; mononuclear leukocytes; Oat β-glucan; oats; Plant stanol esters; plant stanols; Proinflammatory cytokines; risk; Sitosterols - administration & dosage; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood
• ISSN: 1613-4125; 1613-4133; 1613-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200800132

We have earlier demonstrated that muesli enriched with oat β-glucan effectively lowered serum LDL cholesterol. Addition of plant stanols further lowered LDL cholesterol. Besides these hypocholesterolemic effects, β-glucan and plant stanol esters (PSE) may also affect inflammatory processes. Forty-two mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects randomly consumed for 4 wk (crossover design) control muesli (4.8 g control fiber), β-glucan muesli (4.8 g oat β-glucan), or combination muesli (4.8 g oat β-glucan plus 1.4 g stanol as PSE). Changes in cytokine production (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) of LPS-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and whole blood were evaluated, as well as changes in plasma high-sensitivity (hs)-CRP. Additionally, changes in expression profiles of 84 genes involved in atherosclerosis metabolism were assessed in isolated PBMC. IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α production by PBMC and whole blood after LPS stimulation did not differ between the treatments. Also high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were similar. β-Glucan consumption did not change gene expression, while only 3 genes (ADFP, CDH5, CSF2) out of the 84 genes from the atherosclerotic risk panel were differentially expressed (p < 0.05) after consumption of PSE. Consumption of β-glucan with or without PSE did not influence inflammatory parameters in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects.