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Plant
compounds called phytosterols found in vegetable oils significantly
reduce cholesterol absorption, according to researchers at
Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
The naturally
occurring plant compounds appear to be effective even when
consumed at the trace amounts found in a normal diet, according
to the study published in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition.
Prior
research showed that high levels of supplements of phytosterols
can reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine
and lower the amount of the bad LDL cholesterol in the blood.
In this
new study, researchers tested whether levels as low as what
is in a normal diet could reduce cholesterol by giving 25
people two meals, separated by one week, of a pudding containing
35 milligrams of cholesterol and 30 to 35 grams of corn oil.
Some of the volunteers were given modified corn oil that had
the phytosterols taken out, while those given the regular
corn oil received 270 milligrams of phytosterols.
Volunteers
who consumed the modified corn oil showed a 38 percent increase
in cholesterol absorption compared to those who had the normal
corn oil. When volunteers were given the modified corn oil
during the first meal but were given phytosterol supplements
during the second meal, their absorption of cholesterol decreased
by 12 percent.
Phytosterols
substantially reduce cholesterol absorption and may account
for part of the cholesterol-lowering activity of corn oil
previously attributed solely to unsaturated fatty acids, concluded
the researchers.
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of June 9, 2002
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