Potential intake of phytosterols/-stanols: results of a simulation study

Abstract

Background: Different doses of phytosterols/-stanols up to a maximum of 4.0 g/day have been used in human safety studies, whereas only one small-scale study investigated some detailed clinical information about consumption levels exceeding 8.6 g/ day.Objective: To determine which population groups are likely to be at risk of excessive intakes if liberal enrichment of foods with phytosterols/-stanols will be allowed. Design and subjects: Cross-sectional study among a representative sample (n¼23 106) of the Dutch population, aged 20-60 y (MORGEN-project, 1993(MORGEN-project, -1997. Phytosterol/-stanol intake was assessed with virtual replacement of one to four ordinary foods in the diet with enriched products. Percentile values were used to describe the distribution in simulated intake for different groups in the population, varying in sociodemographic and health characteristics. Multiple linear regression was used to describe the contribution of the different population characteristics to the simulated phytosterol/-stanol intake. Results: If three commonly consumed products (margarine, cheese, yoghurt) were completely replaced, the median daily phytosterol/-stanol intake will be about 5.5 g in men and 4.6 g in women. In males, the intake above the 90th percentile will exceed 8.6 g/day. Women will approach this level. Especially, age, body mass index, socioeconomic status, subjective health, smoking behaviour, alcohol consumption, pregnancy (women) and high cholesterol level (men) contributed to the variance in the simulated intake (Po0.05), although the total explained variance was low (1-3%). Conclusions: If liberal phytosterol/-stanol fortification is allowed, the daily intake might exceed the recommended intake level as well as our 'cutoff' level of 8.6 g/day. Postlaunch monitoring to identify consumers and real intake levels, refinement of scenario buiding, as well as human safety studies for levels above 8.6 g/day are necessary.

Phytosterol-enriched products on the Irish market: examination of intake and consumption patterns

“…However, studies on prospective intakes from multiple phytosterol-enriched products have been carried out. One simulation study based in The Netherlands (using hypothesised replacement of foods such as margarine, cheese, yoghurt, meats and salad dressing) anticipated intakes above the 90th percentile in men to exceed 8?6 g/d (14) . This corresponds to the maximum intake of 8?9 g/d achieved for males in the higher intake level (i.e.…”

Les phytostérols adjuvants contre le cholestérol

“…Or, une simulation a montré qu'une généralisation ou une extension de leur utilisation entraînerait pour le 90 e percentile un apport de plus de 8,6 g/jour, niveau pour lequel on manque de données de sécurité [6].…”

Nanoscale and customary non‐esterified sitosterols are equally enriched in different body compartments of the guinea pig

“…In contrast, the European Commission recommends avoiding intakes exceeding 3 g of plant sterols per day [10]. A simulation study emphasized that a replacement of three common foods with plant sterol-enriched products may lead to a daily consumption of more than 8.6 g plant sterols [11].…”