Effects of a Plant Sterol or Stanol Enriched Mixed Meal on Postprandial Lipid Metabolism in Healthy Subjects

Abstract

Background: Evidence is increasing that plant sterols and stanols not only lower fasting serum low-density lipoprotein concentrations, but also those of triglycerides (TG). Insight into effects of these components on postprandial TG metabolism, an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is missing.

Objective: Our objective was to examine the 8-hour postprandial response after consuming plant sterol or stanol enriched margarine as part of a mixed meal.

Methods: This postprandial study was part of a randomized crossover study in which 42 subjects consumed plant sterol enriched (3 g/d plant sterols), plant stanol enriched (3 g/d plant stanols), and control margarines for 4 weeks. After each period, subjects consumed a shake enriched with 3g plant sterols (sterol period), 3g plant stanols (stanol period) or no addition (control period). Subjects received a second shake with no addition after 4 hours.

Results: TG and apoB48 incremental areas under the curves (iAUC) of the total (0-8h) and 1st meal response (0-4h) were comparable between the meals and in all age categories (I:18-35y, II:36-52y, III:53-69y). In subjects aged 53-69y, TG iAUC after the 2nd meal (4-8h) was higher in the stanol period as compared with the sterol (63.1±53.0 mmol/L/min; P < 0.01) and the control period (43.2±52.4 mmol/L/min; P < 0.05). ApoB48 iAUC after the 2nd meal was higher after the stanol than after the sterol period (67.1±77.0 mg/L/min; P < 0.05) and tended to be higher than after the control period (43.1±64.5 mg/L/min; P = 0.08) in subjects aged 53-69y. These increased postprandial responses may be due to reduced lipoprotein lipase activity, since postprandial apoCIII/II ratios were increased after stanol consumption compared with the control meal.

Conclusion: Postprandial TG and apoB48 responses are age-dependently increased after plant stanol consumption, which might be related to a changed clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01559428.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1. Subject flow chart.

Fig 2. Serum triglyceride concentration differences after consumption of a mixed meal containing no, or 3.0 gram of plant sterols or plant stanols.

(A) total group: 18–69 years (n = 42), significant difference iAUC2 between stanol and sterol period *(P < 0.05); (B) age category I: 18–35 y (n = 17); (C) age category II: 36–52 y (n = 11), trend difference iAUC2 between stanol and sterol period #(P = 0.07); (D) age category III: 53–69 y (n = 14), significant difference iAUC2 between stanol and control period *(P < 0.05) and stanol and sterol period **(P < 0.01). iAUC2 in age category I was tested by Friedman’s test for not normally distributed data. Inserts show second meal responses (4–8 hours). Data are means ± SEM. iAUC2: incremental AUC after the 2nd meal (4-8h).

Fig 3. Serum apoB48 concentration differences after consumption of a mixed meal containing no, or 3.0 gram of plant sterols or plant stanols.

(A) total group: 18–69 y (n = 42), trend difference iAUC2 between stanol and sterol #(P = 0.06) and between stanol and control ##(P = 0.09); (B) age category I: 18–35 y (n = 17); (C) age category II: 36–52 y (n = 11); (D) age category III: 53–69 y (n = 14), significant difference iAUC2 between stanol and sterol period *(P < 0.05) and trend difference iAUC2 between stanol and control period #(P = 0.08). iAUCT and maxApoB48 in age category III were tested by Friedman’s test for not normally distributed data. Greenhouse-Geisser correction was applied for iAUC1 in age category III. Inserts show second meal responses (4–8 hours). Data are means ± SEM. iAUC2: incremental AUC after the 2nd meal (4-8h).

Fig 4

(A) Plasma retinyl palmitate concentration differences and (B) ratio difference retinyl palmitate/apoB48 (n = 13) after consumption of a mixed meal containing no, or 3.0 gram of plant sterols or plant stanols. Insert shows second meal response (4–8 hours). Data are means ± SEM.

Fig 5

(A) Plasma glucose and (B) insulin concentration differences (n = 42) after consumption of a mixed meal containing no, or 3.0 gram of plant sterols or plant stanols. Data are means ± SEM.