Diet and Plant Sterols in the Control of Cholesterolemia (DESCO)

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, monocentric cross over clinical study conducted in Italy.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the fasting lipid profile of adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia and a low/very low cardiovascular risk, after 3 weeks of supplementation with 2.5 g/day of plant sterols, vs placebo, and to assess the relationship between the effects of the supplementation and the diet.

Inclusion criteria

• Total cholesterol plasma levels between 200 and 240 mg/dL and/or LDL cholesterol levels between 130 and 160 mg/dL
• Triglyceride plasma levels <200 mg / dL
• Cardiovascular risk at 10 years (according to the SCORE algorithm) <5%.
• Signature of the informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects in secondary prevention for cardiovascular diseases or with a global cardiovascular risk (according to the SCORE algorithm) > 5% at 10 years
• Triglyceride plasma levels >200 mg / dL
• Decompensated diabetes
• Alcoholism
• Food allergy
• Recent intake of functional foods or supplements for cholesterol control
• Intake of lipid-lowering drugs or drugs affecting lipid metabolism in the last 2 months
• Alterations in thyroid, hepatic or renal function (transaminases greater than 3 times the maximum values; glomerular filtration rate <30ml / min), muscle diseases, even if subclinical
• Obesity (BMI> 30)
• Any medical or surgical condition that could make the patient's adherence to the study protocol complex or inconstant.