All varieties of soybean oils resulted in more favorable lipoprotein profiles than did the partially hydrogenated form. These soybean oils may provide a viable option for reformulation of products to reduce the content of trans fatty acids.

We measured plasma markers of cholesterol synthesis (lathosterol) and absorption (campesterol, sitosterol, and cholestanol) in order to compare the effects of maximal doses of rosuvastatin with atorvastatin and investigate the basis for the significant individual variation in lipid lowering response to statin therapy. Measurements were performed in participants (n 5 135) at baseline and after 6 weeks on either rosuvastatin (40 mg/day) or atorvastatin (80 mg/day) therapy. Plasma sterols were measured using gas-liquid chromatography. Rosuvastatin and atorvastatin significantly (P , 0.001) altered plasma total cholesterol (C) levels by 240%, and the ratios of lathosterol/C by 264% and 268%, and campesterol/C by 152% and 172%, respectively, with significant differences (P , 0.001) between the treatment groups for the latter parameter. When using absolute values of these markers, subjects with the greatest reductions in both synthesis (lathosterol) and absorption (campesterol) had significantly greater reductions in total C than subjects in whom the converse was true (246% versus 234%, P 5 0.001), with similar effects for LDL-C. Rosuvastatin and atorvastatin decreased markers of cholesterol synthesis and increased markers of fractional cholesterol absorption, with rosuvastatin having significantly less effect on the latter parameter than atorvastatin. In addition, alterations in absolute values of plasma sterols correlated with the cholesterol lowering response.-van Himbergen, T.

No abstract