Evaluation of cardiovascular risk and oxidative stress parameters in hypercholesterolemic subjects on a standard healthy diet including low-fat milk enriched with plant sterols.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of a healthy diet, including PS-enriched low-fat milk, on cardiovascular risk and oxidative stress parameters, with a focus on changes in beta-carotene levels.
Results Summary
The study found that the diet significantly increased beta-carotene levels by 23% and improved the antioxidant capacity of LDL cholesterol particles. No global impairment of antioxidative defenses or enhancement of oxidative stress parameters was observed despite changes in other fat-soluble vitamins.
Population
Hypercholesterolemic subjects
Effective Dosage
Not specified for beta-carotene (PS dosage: 2 g/day)
Duration
3 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
healthy diet | decrease | total cholesterol | hypercholesterolemic subjects | 4.0% | significantly reduced | #1 |
healthy diet | decrease | LDL cholesterol | hypercholesterolemic subjects | 4.7% | significantly reduced | #2 |
healthy diet | increase | beta-carotene level | hypercholesterolemic subjects | 23% | produced an increase | #3 |
healthy diet | increase | antioxidant capacity of LDL cholesterol particles | hypercholesterolemic subjects | 4.6% | improved | #4 |
PS | decrease | total cholesterol | hypercholesterolemic subjects | 6.4% | induced a significant decrease | #5 |
PS | decrease | LDL | hypercholesterolemic subjects | 9.9% | induced a significant decrease | #6 |
PS | decrease | apolipoprotein B100/apolipoprotein A1 ratio | hypercholesterolemic subjects | 4.9% | induced a significant decrease | #7 |
PS | decrease | cryptoxanthin level | hypercholesterolemic subjects | 29% | led to a decrease | #8 |
PS | no change | antioxidant capacity of LDL cholesterol particles | hypercholesterolemic subjects | no significant change | no change being observed | #9 |
PS | no change | total antioxidant status | hypercholesterolemic subjects | no significant change | no change being observed | #10 |
PS | no change | lipid peroxidation | hypercholesterolemic subjects | no significant change | no change being observed | #11 |
PS supplement in dietary measures | decrease | lipoprotein-mediated risk of cardiovascular disease | hypercholesterolemic subjects | - | positive effect | #12 |
PS | no change | antioxidative defenses | hypercholesterolemic subjects | - | no evidence of a global impairment | #13 |
PS | no change | oxidative stress parameters | hypercholesterolemic subjects | - | no evidence of an enhancement | #14 |
A healthy diet and plant sterols (PS) are recommended for reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and, subsequently, the risk of premature cardiovascular disease. PS mediate a decrease in fat-soluble vitamin concentration, which can lead to a general impairment of antioxidative defenses and an increase in oxidative stress. Thus, we evaluated the effects of a healthy diet, including PS-enriched low-fat milk, on cardiovascular risk and oxidative stress parameters in hypercholesterolemic subjects. This was a randomized parallel trial employing 40 subjects and consisting of two 3-month intervention phases. After 3 months on a standard healthy diet, subjects were divided into two intervention groups: a diet group and a diet+PS group (2 g/day). Lipid profile, apolipoproteins, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and oxidative stress parameters were analyzed. Diet significantly reduced total and LDL cholesterol (4.0% and 4.7%, respectively), produced an increase in the level of beta-carotene (23%) and improved the antioxidant capacity of LDL cholesterol particles (4.6%). PS induced a significant decrease in total cholesterol (6.4%), LDL (9.9%) and the apolipoprotein B100/apolipoprotein A1 ratio (4.9%), but led to a decrease in cryptoxanthin level (29%) without any change being observed in the antioxidant capacity of LDL cholesterol particles, total antioxidant status or lipid peroxidation. After 3 months, we observed the positive effect of including a PS supplement in dietary measures, as the lipoprotein-mediated risk of cardiovascular disease was reduced. Despite a decrease in the concentration of cryptoxanthin, no evidence of a global impairment of antioxidative defenses or an enhancement of oxidative stress parameters was found.