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Home » Phytosterols for cholesterol cuts
The facts:
- The findings of 84 well-controlled trials were pooled to determine the LDL cholesterol-lowering effects of phytosterols.
- It was calculated that an average daily dose of 2.15g phytosterols would reduce LDL-cholesterol by 0.34 mmol/L (8.8%).
- No significant differences were found between dose responses for plant sterols vs. stanols, fat-based vs. nonfat-based food and dairy vs. nondairy food.
Dr Shaun Holt:
A well conducted meta-analysis such as this one provides some of the strongest evidence possible and the finding from adding over 80 studies was that phytosterols in food lower LDL-cholesterol. A dose-response relationship was found ie. more phytosterol led to a greater reduction. The authors said that 2 grams a day of phytosterols (the recommended amount) would reduce LDL-cholesterol by around 10% and this would reduce coronary heart disease by around 10-20%. Phytosterols occur naturally in many vegetable oils and are used as a food additive.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/jn.108.095125
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