3 ‘Hot Spots’ Target of Research Beyond LDL Cholesterol-Lowering for Plant Sterols

Compelling research showing the promising benefits of phytosterols for reducing triglycerides, for use in personalized nutritional programs, and for combination therapies with other dietary supplements and drugs.

Nov 3 2010 --- Phytosterol researchers are looking beyond LDL cholesterol-lowering and are focusing on three "hot spots", according to Todd Rideout, Adjunct Professor, Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, Richardson Centre for Functional Foods & Nutraceuticals, Canada.

Dr. Rideout recently presented his findings during the 2010 SupplySide West conference. He shared compelling research showing the promising benefits of phytosterols for reducing triglycerides, for use in personalized nutritional programs, and for combination therapies with other dietary supplements and drugs. Phytosterols are found naturally in vegetables, fruits, vegetable oils, legumes, nuts, and grains.

"We are very excited about the potential of sterols in safely and effectively combating heart-related conditions worldwide.  The totality of evidence supports phytosterols in lowering LDL cholesterol and now we have new information suggesting benefits on a broader scale," he explained.

Specifically, the triglyceride lowering effects of phytosterols have been recently suggested in several human trials including a meta-analysis.1,2  Dr. Rideout pointed out that results from previous animal studies have been inconsistent and is encouraging more research in this area to understand the utility of phytosterols in lowering triglyceride concentrations.

Understanding why some patients respond to phytosterols better than others is driving his studies into the factors affecting response to lipid lowering therapies.  "We have to move away from a one-size fits all mentality.  Instead we need to break it down by individual and look at things like metabolic variations, genotype, diet, dose and baseline LDL."  He said that individual factors affecting cholesterol synthesis will give doctors detailed information so they can prescribe the best therapy for a patient.3

Dr. Rideout suggested that patients may see even greater benefits when combining sterols with other therapies.  "Omega-3 fatty acids appear to work well with plant sterols and in these combination studies we have seen a 20 to 25 percent drop in triglycerides and a 5 to 15 percent increase in HDL cholesterol."4

Canadian Novel Foods Approval

As a Canadian researcher, he is delighted with the recent Novel Foods approval which now allows plant sterol and sterol esters to be used in Canadian food products.  The Novel Food approval includes criteria for the use of a health claim for cholesterol lowering, as well.

Dr. Rideout's colleague, Peter Jones, PhD, world renown for his phytosterols research, recently published a paper suggesting that the Canadian health care system could potentially save $38 million to $2.45 billion annually from the availability of foods enriched with plant sterols.5

Cognis' phytosterols enjoy regulatory approval in more than 50 countries.  They are marketed with the ingredient brand name Heart Choice in North America and Vegapure® in other regions of the world.   In Canada, the approved daily serving is up to the equivalent of 3 grams of free sterols. Food applications include unstandardized spreads, mayonnaise, margarine, calorie-reduced margarine, salad dressing and unstandardized salad dressings, yogurt and yogurt drinks, and vegetable and fruit juices.

Cognis Getting to Heart of Heath

Laura Troha, Marketing Manager, Cognis Nutrition & Health, NA, supplemented Dr. Rideout's presentation with new marketing data.

"With Cognis' market leadership position in phytosterols, Cognis is committed to building consumer awareness worldwide.  In fact, 45 percent of consumers surveyed are now aware of the health benefit of plant sterols in reducing risk of heart disease.  That's a dramatic peak in awareness when you consider that awareness was only 2 percent about 8 years ago."6

She explained that Heart Choice phytosterols are clinically proven to lower cholesterol up to 15 percent with a health claim approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.