Phytosterols in nonfat and low-fat beverages have no impact on the LDL size phenotype

To examine the impact of nonfat and low-fat phytosterol-enriched beverages on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) electrophoretic characteristics.

Double-blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled dietary trial.

Diets were prepared and consumed at the Mary Emily Clinical Nutrition Research Unit of McGill University. Analyses were performed at the Institute on Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods of Laval University.

In total, 15 moderately hypercholesterolemic persons consumed each of three experimental diets that each comprised a different beverage: nonfat placebo (NF control), nonfat with phytosterols (NFPS) or low-fat with phytosterols (LFPS). Participants consumed three beverages daily at meal time for a total of 1.8 g of phytosterols per day. Nondenaturing 2-16% polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoreses were used to characterize LDL size characteristics.

The NFPS and LFPS beverage induced no significant changes in several features of the LDL size phenotype compared to the control diet.

The consumption of phytosterol-supplemented nonfat and low-fat beverages is not associated with clinically meaningful changes in the LDL particle size phenotype.