The distribution of dietary plant sterols in serum lipoproteins and liver subcellular fractions of rats

Abstract

Rats were fed plant sterols containing campesterol and beta-sitosterol in the differerent proportions, and their distribution in serum lipoproteins and in liver subcellular fractions was determined. In serum lipoproteins, the percentage as well as the concentration of plant sterols increased with the increase in the density of lipoproteins. Thus, high density lipoprotein (HDL) contained the highest and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), the lowest. Also, there were distinct differences in the ratio of campesterol to sitosterol among lipoproteins, it was the highest in VLDL and lowest in HDL. Quantitatively, more than 75% of campesterol and 80% of sitosterol were carried in HDL; the values were significantly different from those of cholesterol (ca. 70%) in relation to total cholesterol. The distribution of plant sterols in liver subcellular fractions was virtually the same with that of cholesterol. Both nuclei and microsomes contained approximately 40% of total plant sterols.

Effects of diet supplementation of soya-saponins, isoflavones and phytosterols on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L) fry fed from start-feeding

“…Phytosterols have been shown to accumulate in the liver, adrenals and gonads of rats (Sugano et al . ; Boberg et al . ; Sanders et al .…”

Synthesis and absorption markers of cholesterol in serum and lipoproteins during a large dose of statin treatment

“…Second, the ratios of the cholesterol synthesis markers (squalene, cholestenol, desmosterol and lathosterol), and those of the absorption markers (cholestanol, campesterol, sitosterol and avenasterol) at baseline and Squalene and noncholesterol sterols have usually been expressed in serum as concentrations or in ratios to serum cholesterol. Only in some earlier studies squalene and some of the minor sterols, measured with packed GLC columns, were expressed separately in different lipoproteins [16,17]. However, no relation of these compounds were made in different lipoproteins to cholesterol synthesis or sterol metabolism in general, despite the fact that studies were also carried out in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) with normal and highly increased cholesterol synthesis [18,19].…”

Adrenal insufficiency in phytosterolaemia

“…Animal models provide an insight into the potential mechanisms linking phytosterolaemia to adrenal insufficiency, as plant sterols have been shown to accumulate in the liver, adrenals, ovaries and testis (14,15). Thus, this accumulation of sterols may interfere with cholesterol metabolism in the adrenal gland and lead to adrenal insufficiency.…”