Plant Sterol-Enriched Palm Oil to Improve Lipid Profile and Inflammation in Hyperlipidemic Individuals

Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD), are currently positioned amongst the leading causes of mortality globally. Risk factors of CHD include, among others, hypercholesterolemia and elevations in systemic inflammation. Functional foods enriched with compounds showing cholesterol-lowering effects are considered as one among various dietary and lifestyle intervention strategies to tackle this problem. A CHD-preventive effect of dietary plant sterols has been broadly discussed, not only due to their ability to reduce blood cholesterol level, but also to their proven anti-inflammatory potential. Palm oil is one amongst the most widely consumed edible oils in the world. Up to date, despite its widespread use, especially in Asian countries, no study has been conducted using palm oil as a vehicle for plant sterols. The aim of the placebo-controlled double-blinded trial presented here was therefore to evaluate the effect of palm oil enriched with plant sterols, used as a cooking oil, on lipid profile and systemic inflammation marker in 100 adult hyperlipidemic residents of Bogor, Indonesia. The study had 2 arms; intervention group in which subjects were given oil which contained plant sterol and control group which in which subjects were given the same oil as the intervention group but did not contain plant sterol for 8 weeks. The oil was consumed as cooking oil. Data on energy, macro nutrients, and cooking oil consumption were collected through interviews at baseline, week 2, 4, 6, and endline. Body weight and height measurement for nutritional status assessment and blood sample collection for biomarker analysis was conducted at baseline and endline.

Inclusion criteria

• aged 25-60y
• total cholesterol concentration ≥200 mg/dL
• not requiring lipid-lowering drug therapy during the trial

Exclusion criteria

• secondary hyperlipidemia
• fasting triglyceride concentration >3.5 mmol/L
• body mass index >35 kg/m2
• use of any lipid-lowering drug
• suffering from gastrointestinal diseases or severe concomitant diseases