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  • Original Article
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Effect of plant sterols and glucomannan on lipids in individuals with and without type II diabetes

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 529–537 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether supplements of plant sterols and/or glucomannan improve lipid profile and cholesterol biosynthesis in mildly hypercholesterolemic type II diabetic and non-diabetic subjects and to compare the response of these two subject groups to the treatments.

Design:

A randomized, crossover study consisting of four phases of 21 days, with each phase separated by a 28-day washout.

Setting:

The Mary Emily Clinical Nutrition Research Unit of McGill University.

Subjects:

Eighteen non-diabetic individuals and 16 type II diabetic individuals aged 38–74 years.

Interventions:

Subjects were supplemented with plant sterols (1.8 g/day), glucomannan (10 g/day), a combination of glucomannan and plant sterols, and a placebo, provided in the form of bars.

Results:

Overall plasma cholesterol concentrations were lowered (P<0.05) after combination treatment (4.72±0.20 mmol/l) compared to control (5.47±0.18 mmol/l). Plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations were decreased (P<0.05) after glucomannan (3.16±0.14 mmol/l) and combination treatments (2.95±0.16 mmol/l) compared to control (3.60±0.16 mmol/l). The results of lipid profiles did not differ between subject groups. Overall plasma lathosterol concentrations, an index of cholesterol biosynthesis, were lowered (P<0.05) after the combination treatment compared to the plant sterol treatment.

Conclusions:

The results suggest that glucomannan and a combination of glucomannan and plant sterols substantially improves plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations.

Sponsorship:

Forbes Medi-Tech Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Christine Gurekian, Mira Laza and Dr Yanwen Wang for their assistance in conducting the clinical trial, the preparation of the tested bars, and the manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    M Yoshida, C A Vanstone, W D Parsons & P J H Jones

  2. Forbes Medi-Tech Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    J Zawistowski

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  1. M Yoshida
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  2. C A Vanstone
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  3. W D Parsons
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  4. J Zawistowski
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  5. P J H Jones
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Correspondence to P J H Jones.

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Yoshida, M., Vanstone, C., Parsons, W. et al. Effect of plant sterols and glucomannan on lipids in individuals with and without type II diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 529–537 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602347

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