Both free and esterified plant sterols reduce cholesterol absorption and the bioavailability of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol in normocholesterolemic humans

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 80; no. 1; pp. 171 - 177
• Main Authors: Richelle, M, Enslen, M, Hager, C, Groux, M, Tavazzi, I, Godin, J.P, Berger, A, Metairon, S, Quaile, S, Piguet-Welsch, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Clinical Nutrition 01.07.2004; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: absorption; Adult; alpha-tocopherol; alpha-Tocopherol - pharmacokinetics; analogs & derivatives; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacokinetics; Area Under Curve; beta Carotene; beta Carotene - pharmacokinetics; beverages; bioavailability; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Availability; blood; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol - pharmacokinetics; Cholesterol, HDL; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; clinical trials; Cross-Over Studies; diet; Diterpenes; Double-Blind Method; Esters; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human subjects; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; Male; mechanism of action; men; milk; Nutrition; pharmacokinetics; pharmacology; phytosterols; Phytosterols - pharmacology; Retinyl Esters; sterol esters; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vitamin A; Vitamin A - analogs & derivatives; Vitamin A - pharmacokinetics; Human; carotenoids; Carotene; Vitamin; vitamin E; Lipids; α-Tocopherol; tocopherol; Bioavailability; Antioxidant; Cholesterol; Plant; Absorption; Plant sterol; Sterol
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/80.1.171

Background: Plant sterols reduce cholesterol absorption, which leads to a decrease in plasma and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. Plant sterols also lower plasma concentrations of carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol, but the mechanism of action is not yet understood. Objectives: The aims of this clinical study were to determine whether plant sterols affect the bioavailability of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol in normocholesterolemic men and to compare the effects of plant sterol esters and plant free sterols on cholesterol absorption. Design: Twenty-six normocholesterolemic men completed the double-blind, randomized, crossover study. Subjects consumed daily, for 1 wk, each of the following 3 supplements: a low-fat milk-based beverage alone (control) or the same beverage supplemented with 2.2 g plant sterol equivalents provided as either free sterols or sterol esters. During this 1-wk supplementation period, subjects consumed a standardized diet. Results: Both of the milks enriched with plant sterols induced a similar (60%) decrease in cholesterol absorption. Plant free sterols and plant sterol esters reduced the bioavailability of beta-carotene by approximately 50% and that of alpha-tocopherol by approximately 20%. The reduction in beta-carotene bioavailability was significantly less with plant free sterols than with plant sterol esters. At the limit of significance (P = 0.054) in the area under the curve, the reduction in alpha-tocopherol bioavailability was also less with plant free sterols than with plant sterol esters. Conclusions: Both plant sterols reduced beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol bioavailability and cholesterol absorption in normocholesterolemic men. However, plant sterol esters reduced the bioavailability of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol more than did plant free sterols.