Cholesterol lowering effect of a commercial margarine in hypercholesterolemic adults: a review of the scientific literature.

Authors

  • Raquel Bernácer Coordinadora área Nutrición y Salud Unilever Sur Europa
  • Diana Roig Responsable área Nutrición y Salud Unilever España
  • Blanca Lozano Nutricionista área Nutrición y Salud Unilever España
  • Giuseppe Russolillo Presidente de la Asociación Española de Dietistas-Nutricionistas (AEDN)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14306/renhyd.17.1.5

Keywords:

cholesterol, plant sterols, phytosterols, margarine, health claims

Abstract

Introduction: the hypercholesterolemia is a growing problem, responsible of one fifth of coronary events in Spain. It is considered that plant sterols (PS) could play an important role in their treatment.

Objective: we review the role of a range of functional foods with added PS (including specific studies using Flora pro•activ) in adults with hypercholesterolemia.

Methods: we performed a review of the literature in the PubMed database to locate human studies that have evaluated the role of Flora pro•activ or PS fortified foods with a similar composition. We also have been consulted the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) database.

Results: Flora pro•activ demonstrated in rigorous scientific studies to lower cholesterol in adults with hypercholesterolemia. Two servings of Flora pro•activ (1.5 g PS) are needed to observe this effect. Lowering cholesterol with Flora pro•activ (2 servings / day) oscillate as EFSA notes, between 7 and 10%. This effect is observed after 2-3 weeks. Its composition allows to make health claims about lowering cholesterol as is described for the European Union. The cholesterol-lowering efficacy of PS enriched foods that are not margarine, mayonnaise, salad dressings or dairy products is under-researched. With few exceptions, the use of fortified foods with PS is safe.

Conclusions: the current scientific evidence justify the promotion of the use of PS to lower LDL cholesterol in adults with hypercholesterolemia.

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Published

2013-03-25

How to Cite

Bernácer, R., Roig, D., Lozano, B., & Russolillo, G. (2013). Cholesterol lowering effect of a commercial margarine in hypercholesterolemic adults: a review of the scientific literature. Spanish Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 17(1), 34–44. https://doi.org/10.14306/renhyd.17.1.5

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