Download Plant Stanols and Sterols

Tracy Beckmann
May 21, 2012
Are There Adverse Effects in Adults Who Consume Plant Sterols and Stanols?
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in the United States.1
The first line of treatment includes medical nutrition therapy focusing on evidence-based diet
and lifestyle changes that reduce the risk factors for developing CVD. One such method
addresses atherosclerosis with the goal of lowering LDL cholesterol levels, which are known to
contribute to plaque build-up in the arteries.2 Plant sterols and stanols have been studied
primarily for their LDL lowering ability since the 1950s3 and are currently used as ingredients in
functional food products such as margarine, butter, bread, and cereal.4 This paper evaluates the
safety of plant sterols and stanols to determine if there are any adverse effects to adults who
consume such foods.
Background
Plant (or phyto) sterols and stanols can be thought of as “plant cholesterol”; they are naturallyoccurring saturated compounds that provide plant membrane structure and, in that respect, have a
similar configuration to animal cholesterol.5 Phytosterols are obtained by humans solely in the
diet and contain both sterols and stanols, with stanols comprising a small amount (only about
10%) of daily phytosterol intake.5 It is estimated that the typical Western diet contains
approximately 200-500 mg cholesterol, 200-400 mg phytosterols and 50 mg phytostanols,6 with
the plant compounds obtained from fruits, vegetables, and functional foods. When eaten,
phytosterols compete with cholesterol (dietary and endogenous) for micelle uptake in the human
intestine.7 Because phytosterols are absorbed at a much lower rate than cholesterol (about 10%
as compared to 50-60%, respectively), they are present in lower concentrations in the blood, are
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excreted more rapidly, and result in decreased LDL transport.5, 7 These results have been seen in
numerous studies involving diverse human subjects including males and females of varying adult
ages and disease conditions, although all had been diagnosed with hyperlipidemia.3-8
Recommendations
Phytosterols have been deemed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the United States
Food and Drug Administration.9 Several countries, including Europe, Australia, and the United
States recommend intakes of these plant compounds at 2 g/day by adults with and at risk for
hyperlipidemia and CVD.8, 10-11 This amount, almost exclusively obtained via functional foods,
has been shown effective in reducing LDL cholesterol absorption by roughly 10%.12-13 Intakes of
greater than 2-3 g/day are not currently advised as research showing more substantial LDL
reductions with greater intake is lacking.6, 8, 11-13 The current guidelines are based on human
studies averaging 1 year in length; longer-term studies have not been conducted in significant
numbers of subjects.8
Adverse Effects
Phytosterols are not advised for the general population as adverse effects have been seen in
individuals with homozygous sitosterolemia (phytosterolemia), a rare hereditary condition that
allows increased phytosterol absorption with decreased biliary excretion and results in high
plasma phytosterol levels.8, 14 As noted above, phytosterols are typically low in human plasma; at
elevated levels there is an increased incidence of premature atherosclerosis.8, 14 Additionally,
phytosterols are not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding women due to insufficient research15
although no contrary evidence has been documented among vegetarian or vegan women
(populations with increased phytosterol intakes due to diet) who were pregnant or lactating.14
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Among people at high risk for hyperlipidemia and CVD who follow the current
phytosterol guidelines, some individuals may experience nausea, constipation, diarrhea, or
indigestion.14-15 The most serious adverse effect seen in this population is decreased plasma
carotenoid levels, especially beta carotene.6-8, 11-15 This phytosterol-induced nutrient deficiency
has been associated with increased incidences of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic
disturbances.8, 15 However, this can be remedied by incorporating one additional carotenoid-rich
fruit or vegetable (beyond the recommended five) into the diet each day.16
Conclusion
Individuals facing increased risk for CVD, including hyperlipidemia, have several therapeutic
options directed towards diet and lifestyle change aimed to lower their risk. Among these options
are increased plant sterol and stanol intake by means of fat-derived functional food products.
After reviewing the literature and current recommendations, it is my finding that the
incorporation of plant sterols and stanols at amounts of 2 g/day, but not more than 3 g/day, may
safely result in decreased LDL cholesterol levels. I would recommend the inclusion of dietary
phytosterols to my clients with high LDL levels for whom initial diet and lifestyle changes did
not achieve desired results. Additionally, I’d impress the need for them to consume six or more
servings of fruits and vegetables each day, with at least 2 of those servings containing beta
carotene-rich foods such as carrots, collards, and kale.
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References:
1. Heart Disease Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site. Updated March
2012. http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm Accessed May 15, 2012.
2. Escott-Stump S. Cardiovascular Disorders. In: Nutrition and Diagnosis-Related Care, 7th Ed.
Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012:336-343.
3. Pollak OJ. Reduction of blood cholesterol in man. Circulation. 1953;2:702–706.
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/7/5/702.full.pdf+html Accessed May 15, 2012.
4. Nestel P, Cehun M, Pomeroy S, Abbey M, Weldon G. Cholesterol-lowering effects of plant
sterol esters and non-esterified stanols in margarine, butter and low-fat foods. European Journal
of Clinical Nutrition. 2001:55;1084–1090. www.nature.com/ejcn Accessed on May 15, 2012.
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http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/gras_notices/grn000177.pdf?utm_campaign=Google2
&utm_source=fdaSearch&utm_medium=website&utm_term=gras%20sterol&utm_content=1
Accessed on May 15, 2012.
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Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. National Cholesterol Education Program website. Updated 2004.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/cholesterol/index.htm Accessed May 15, 2012.
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11. Plant Stanol Esters and Blood Cholesterol. European Food Safety Authority Journal.
2008:825;10-13. http://www.efsa.europa.eu/fr/scdocs/doc/825.pdf Accessed May 15,2012.
12. Katan MB, Grundy SM, Jones P, Law M, Miettinen T, Paoletti R. Efficacy and safety of
plant stanols and sterols in the management of blood cholesterol levels. Mayo Clin
Proc.2003;78(8):965-78. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12911045 Accessed May 15,
2012.
13. Clifton PM, Noakes M, Ross D, Fassoulakis A, Cebun M, Nestel P. High dietary intake of
phytosterol esters decreases carotenoids and increases plasma plant sterol levels with no
additional cholesterol lowering. Journal of Lipid Research. 2004:45;1493-1499. DOI
10.1194/jlr.M400074-JLR20. http://www.jlr.org/content/45/8/1493 Accessed May 15, 2012.
14. Micronutrient Information Center: Phytosterols. Linus Pauling Institute. Oregon State
University. Updated 2008. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals/sterols/
Accessed May 15, 2012.
15. Carr TP, Ash MM, Brown AW. Cholesterol-lowering phytosterols: factors affecting their use
and efficacy. Nutrition and Dietary Supplements. 2010:2 59–72.
http://www.dovepress.com/cholesterol-lowering-phytosterols-factors-affecting-their-use-andeffi-peer-reviewed-article-NDS-recommendation1 Accessed May 15, 2012.
16. Noakes M, Clifton P, Ntanios F, Shrapnel W, Record I, McInerney J. An increase in dietary
carotenoids when consuming plant sterols or stanols is effective in maintaining plasma
carotenoid concentrations. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;75:79-86.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/117560635 Accessed May 15, 2012.
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