Cholesterol-Lowering Ability of a Phytostanol Softgel Supplement in Adults with Mild to Moderate Hypercholesterolemia Woodgate D et al. Lipids. 2006;41:127-32.

Rationale Previous studies have examined the effect of phytostanol in food sources such as margarine, yogurt, milk, juice, and others. Decreases in total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations of up to 15% have been observed. The aim of the study was to examine whether supplementation with phytostanol ester softgel capsules alters lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations in subjects with hypercholesterolaemia. *DALY; disability-adjusted life years Woodgate D et al. Lipids. 2006;41:127-32.

Design Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study design Stanol ester 2.7 g/d (phytostanol ester 1.6 g/d) Woodgate D et al. Lipids. 2006;41:127-32.

Patient population Inclusion criteria: Exclusion criteria: Age 17-70 years Total cholesterol concentration >5.0 mmol/l BMI >18 kg/m2 and <34 kg/m2 Exclusion criteria: Pregnancy or breast-feeding Hormone replacement therapy Diabetes Myocardial infarction, heart surgery Cholesterol-lowering medication within the past 3 months Allergy to the treatment Use of street drugs within the past 3 months Woodgate D et al. Lipids. 2006;41:127-32.

Protocol Woodgate D et al. Lipids. 2006;41:127-32.

Results Day 0 Day 29 Figure 1. Phytostanol supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol by 8% and LDL- cholesterol by 9%. There were no alterations in concentrations of HDL-cholesterol or triacylglycerols. Woodgate D et al. Lipids. 2006;41:127-32.

Conclusion Phytostanol esters 1.6 g/d in softgel form are effective in lowering total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations in mildly to moderately hypercholesterolaemic subjects. Thus, the risk of cardiovascular disease is reduced. *DALY; disability-adjusted life years Woodgate D et al. Lipids. 2006;41:127-32.

Editor’s note “The present study shows the efficacy of a softgel form of phytostanol esters in lowering total and LDL-cholesterol. These changes were noted in the absence of dietary modification and were in the same order of magnitude as those reported in various studies in which individuals consumed phytostanol-enriched nonmargarine food products for 3-4 weeks.” *DALY; disability-adjusted life years Woodgate D et al. Lipids. 2006;41:127-32.