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Plasma noncholesterol sterols: current uses, potential and need for standardization
Dylan S MacKay1, Peter J H Jones
1Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Department of Human Nutritional Sciences Department of Food Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Current Opinion in Lipidology
|April 19, 2012
Summary
Plasma noncholesterol sterols (NCSs) offer insights into cholesterol metabolism, aiding in personalized hypolipidemic therapies. Despite methodological limitations, NCSs show promise for tailoring diets and medicines for cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Metabolomics
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Noncholesterol sterols (NCSs) in plasma include cholesterol precursors and exogenous phytosterols.
- NCSs serve as surrogate markers for cholesterol synthesis and absorption.
- Ratios of NCSs indicate the balance of cholesterol metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on plasma NCSs.
- To explore the potential of NCSs in personalizing hypolipidemic therapies.
- To assess the role of NCSs in customizing dietary and pharmacological interventions.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on plasma NCSs.
- Analysis of NCSs as surrogate measures of cholesterol metabolism.
- Evaluation of NCSs in the context of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk.
Main Results:
- NCSs are utilized to evaluate the effects of interventions on cholesterol metabolism.
- Plasma NCSs can characterize dyslipidemias and guide treatment selection.
- NCSs levels are influenced by genetic, dietary, and physiological factors and linked to cardiovascular disease risk.
Conclusions:
- Standardized methodology is needed to expand the clinical use of plasma NCSs.
- NCSs remain valuable for assessing cholesterol metabolism.
- NCSs hold potential for personalized medicine and dietary recommendations.
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