LACK OF EFFICACY OF LOW-DOSE SITOSTANOL THERAPY AS AN ADJUNCT TO A CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DIET IN MEN WITH MODERATE HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Plant sterols have been shown to reduce dietary cholesterol absorption and hence, total and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol concen trations in humans. In this study the cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary supplementation with the hydrogenated plant sterol sitostanol (3 g/d) were tested in 33 men with moderate hypercholesterolemia who w ere consuming an outpatient diet in which dietary cholesterol was rest ricted to <200 mg/d. Sitostanol therapy did not significantly lower LD L cholesterol compared with the diet alone. Similarly, sitostanol ther apy in conjunction with a cholesterol-lowering regimen of diet and 8 g cholestyramine did not significantly lower LDL-cholesterol concentrat ions. Hence, although previous reports have suggested that low-dose si tostanol therapy is an effective means of reducing LDL-cholesterol con centrations, its effectiveness may be attenuated when the diet is low in cholesterol.