Solubilization of phytosterols in diacylglycerol versus triacylglycerol improves the serum cholesterol-lowering effect

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the difference in the serum-cholesterol-and triglyceridelowering activities between phytosterols dissolved in diacylglycerol (PSaDG) and dispersed in triacylglycerol (PSaTG). The effects of the solvent on the concentrations of serum b-sitosterol and campesterol were examined. Design: The study had a randomised crossover design. Subjects: Twelve healthy normocholesterolemic or moderately hypercholesterolemic men aged 29 ± 50 y participated in this study. Interventions: For 2 weeks before the test period (designated as the control period), all subjects consumed control mayonnaise (PS free) daily with supper and were randomly assigned to two groups for the 2 week test period; one group was given mayonnaise containing PS (500 mgaday) dissolved in DG (10 gaday), and the other mayonnaise containing PS (500 mgaday) dispersed in TG (10 gaday). After a wash out period consuming control PS-free mayonnaise for 4 weeks, the groups were reversed for 2 weeks. Results: PSaTG feeding had no effect on the serum cholesterol level. In contrast, PSaDG feeding signi®cantly reduced the total and LDL cholesterol levels from the initial value of 5.57 to 5.31 mmolal (4.7%; P`0.05) and from 3.69 to 3.39 mmolal (7.6%; P`0.05), respectively. Moreover, the degree of total cholesterol reduction induced by PSaDG feeding in the test period was signi®cantly greater than that induced by PSaTG feeding (P`0.05). In addition, the serum b-sitosterol and campesterol concentrations did not change during the PSaTG or PSaDG feeding periods. Conclusions: Dissolution of PS in DG had a better serum cholesterol lowering effect than dissolution in TG.

Improving Skin Hydration and Age-related Symptoms by Oral Administration of Wheat Glucosylceramides and Digalactosyl Diglycerides: A Human Clinical Study

“…For instance, as shown in a human clinical study [29], oral supplementation of phytosterol dispersed in a diacylglycerol-rich oil increased the health benefits of phytosterols compared to a triacylglycerol oil. The authors explained that the reason for this could be that diacylglycerol-rich oil is a better solvent for hydrophobic components as phytosterols.…”

Cultivar and Year-to-Year Variation of Phytosterol Content in Rye (Secale cereale L.)

“…However, this view has recently been challenged, since several published papers have shown that much lower concentrations of phytosterols have an effect, when administrated in a more suitable matrix (10,11). In earlier studies, phytosterols were administrated in a triglyceride matrix, which also is the matrix in most commercial products.…”

“…In earlier studies, phytosterols were administrated in a triglyceride matrix, which also is the matrix in most commercial products. However, when the phytosterols were administrated as components of a phospholipid or diacylglycerol mixture, cholesterol absorption, serum cholesterol level, and development of atherosclerotic plaques decreased significantly, also at intakes corresponding to the natural consumption or just moderately increased (10)(11)(12)(13). Furthermore, it was recently shown that selectively removing the phytosterols from wheat germ, which was used as a component in a test meal (phytosterol content in the control diet with phytosterols was 330 mg), causes a 40% increase in cholesterol absorption (12).…”

Phytosterols, a double-edged weapon?

“…A este respecto, los esteroles de plantas son más eficientes cuando se mezclan con grasa que cuando se administran aislados (Pelletier et al, 1995), sin embargo estudios recientes sugieren que bastarían pequeñas proporciones de grasa (yogurt con 0,7% de grasa) para ser efectivos bajando los niveles de colesterol (Plat et al, 2000 b). También se ha encontrado que la solubilización en fosfolípidos (Ostlund et al, 1999), así como en diacilglicerol (Meguro et al, 2001) incrementa su biodisponibilidad. Después de su absorción, los fitosteroles se incorporan a lipoproteínas (Miettinen, 1980;Boberg et al, 1988) y pueden acumularse en el hígado y otros tejidos (Sugano et al, 1978;Boberg et al, 1986,), habiéndose sugerido que pueden ser precursores de hormonas esteroídicas (Subbiah y Kuksis, 1969 …”