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Interindividual variability in the cholesterol-lowering effect of supplementation with plant sterols or stanols
Frédéric Fumeron1, Jean-Marie Bard1, Jean-Michel Lecerf1
1INSERM, UMR_S 1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; UPMC Université Paris 6, Sorbonne Universités, UMR_S 1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR_S 1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR_S 1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France. Université de Nantes (EA 2160), Institut Universitaire Mer et Littoral (IUML) FR3473, CNRS et CRNH (Centre de recherche en Nutrition Humaine), Nantes, France; Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest, Saint-Herblain, France. Service de Nutrition, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France.
Abstract:
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) plays a causal role in atherosclerosis. One way to reduce LDL-C levels is to inhibit cholesterol absorption. Plant sterols and stanols compete with cholesterol for absorption in the intestine and induce an average decrease in LDL-C by 5% to 15% in a dose-dependent manner, but not in all individuals. This review focuses on the interindividual variability in response to dietary supplementation with plant sterols and stanols. Dietary plant sterols and stanols have no significant effects on LDL-C in substantial numbers of individuals. Higher responses, in absolute value and percentage of LDL-C, are observed in individuals with higher cholesterol absorption and a lower rate of cholesterol synthesis. Some data provide evidence of the influence of genetics on the response to plant sterols and stanols. Further studies in large populations are required to extend these conclusions about genetic influences.
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