Milk enriched with phytosterols reduces plasma cholesterol levels in healthy and hypercholesterolemic subjects

The consumption of plant sterols has been shown to decrease plasma concentrations of cholesterol without adverse effects in human subjects. To evaluate if milk would be a good vehicle for phytosterols to lower plasma levels of cholesterol, we performed a randomized blind study with healthy subjects (n = 22) and hypercholesterolemic patients (n = 19), both groups treated with phytosterol-enriched milk (2 g/d). Another hypercholesterolemic group (n = 15) was used as a control group. Lipid profile and biochemical, hematologic, and hemorheological parameters were determined at the beginning and after 15 and 30 days of milk beverage intake. After 15 days of treatment, healthy individuals showed lowered total cholesterol and LDL-C levels, by 8.31% (P = .05) and 11% (P < .05), respectively. After 30 days of the trial, these values did not change significantly. Hypercholesterolemic patients treated with phytosterol-enriched milk demonstrated significantly diminished levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C concentrations, by 9.62% (P < .05) and 12.20 % (P < .05), respectively. After 30 days, an increase in the total cholesterol and LDL-C levels was observed for hypercholesterolemic subjects, 6.69% (P < .05) and 8.68% (P < .05), respectively. In the hypercholesterolemic control subjects, no difference was found between plasma levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and LDL-C. Only healthy subjects showed significant changes during the intake of phytosterol-enriched milk. The results obtained indicate that phytosterol-enriched milk is a good vehicle for reducing plasma cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic subjects.