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Serum lipid responses to phytosterol-enriched milk in a moderate hypercholesterolemic population is not affected by apolipoprotein E polymorphism or diameter of low-density lipoprotein particles

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 255–261 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

The importance of both low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) size and the apolipoprotein E (Apo E) in the atherogenic process is known, but there is little information with regard to the effect of phytosterols (PS) on these parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of PS on lipid profile and LDLc size according to Apo E genotype.

Subjects/Methods:

This was a randomized parallel trial employing 75 mild-hypercholesterolemic subjects and consisting of two 3-month intervention phases. After 3 months of receiving a standard healthy diet, subjects were divided into two intervention groups: a diet group (n=34) and a diet+PS group (n=41) that received 2 g/day of PS. Total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerols, LDLc, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), non-HDLc, Apo A–I and B-100, LDLc size and Apo E genotype were determined.

Results:

Patients receiving PS exhibited a significant decrease in TC (5.1%), LDLc (8.1%), non-HDLc (7.4%) and Apo B-100/Apo A–I ratio (7.7%), but these effects did not depend on Apo E genotype. No significant changes were found in lipid profile according to Apo E genotype when patients following dietary recommendations were considered as a whole population or separately. No variations in LDLc size were observed in any of the intervention groups.

Conclusion:

The results of this study show that Apo E genotype does not have an impact on the lipid response to PS as a cholesterol-lowering agent in mild-hypercholesterolemic patients. Furthermore, the evidence obtained confirms that LDLc particle size is not modified when PS are added to a standard healthy diet.

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Acknowledgements

We kindly thank L García-Pareja, B Normanly and I Soria-Cuenca for their contribution to this study. This study has been supported by Unilever (Spain). This work was supported by Grants UVEG2004-ALIFUNC-01-03 from the University of Valencia, 027/2005 from the Valencian School for Health Studies, GE 049/09 from Regional Ministry of Health of Valencian Community, and PI07/0091 and PI09/01025 from FIS. VMV and MR are recipients of FIS contracts (CP07/00171 and CA07/00366, respectively).

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Author notes

  1. C Bañuls and M L Martínez-Triguero: These two authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service of Endocrinology, University Hospital Dr Peset, Valencia, Spain

    C Bañuls, M L Martínez-Triguero, A López-Ruiz, C Morillas, M M Jarabo, L Bellod, V M Víctor, M Rocha & A Hernández-Mijares

  2. CIBER CB/06/02/0045 Research Group, CIBER Actions in Epidemiology and Public Health, Valencia, Spain

    C Bañuls & A Hernández-Mijares

  3. Dr Peset Hospital Research Foundation, Valencia, Spain

    L Bellod, V M Víctor & M Rocha

  4. CIBER CB06/04/0071 Research Group, CIBER Hepatic and Digestive Diseases, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    V M Víctor & M Rocha

  5. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    A Hernández-Mijares

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  1. C Bañuls
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Correspondence to A Hernández-Mijares.

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Bañuls, C., Martínez-Triguero, M., López-Ruiz, A. et al. Serum lipid responses to phytosterol-enriched milk in a moderate hypercholesterolemic population is not affected by apolipoprotein E polymorphism or diameter of low-density lipoprotein particles. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 255–261 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.241

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