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Plant sterols and endurance training combine to favorably alter plasma lipid profiles in previously sedentary hypercholesterolemic adults after 8 wk^1,2,3

¹ From the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal (KAV, NE, CAV, and PJHJ), and the Veterans' Hospital, Sainte Anne de Bellevue, Quebec (WEP)

Background: Plant sterol supplementation was shown to reduce total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, whereas endurance training was shown to increase HDL-cholesterol concentrations and decrease triacylglycerol concentrations.

Objective: The objective was to examine the effect of plant sterols, endurance training, and the combination of plant sterols and endurance training on plasma lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, sterol concentrations, and cholesterol precursor concentrations in previously sedentary hypercholesterolemic adults.

Design: In an 8-wk, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial, 84 subjects were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 interventions: 1) combination of sterols and exercise, 2) exercise, 3) sterols, or 4) control treatment.

Results: Sterol supplementation significantly (P < 0.01) decreased total cholesterol concentrations by 8.2% from baseline. In addition, sterols significantly (P < 0.01) lowered absolute LDL-cholesterol concentrations after treatment but had no effect on the percentage change from the beginning to the end of the trial. Exercise significantly (P < 0.01) increased HDL-cholesterol concentrations by 7.5% and decreased triacylglycerol concentrations by 13.3% from baseline. Moreover, sterol supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) increased lathosterol, campesterol, and ß-sitosterol concentrations after treatment. Exercise significantly (P < 0.01) decreased percentage of body fat by 3.9% from the beginning to the end of the trial.

Conclusions: In comparison with plant sterols or exercise alone, the combination of plant sterols and exercise yields the most beneficial alterations in lipid profiles. Implementation of such a combination therapy could improve lipid profiles in those at risk of coronary artery disease.

Key Words: Plant sterols • exercise • LDL cholesterol • HDL cholesterol • hypercholesterolemia • sedentary humans

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. A. Varady and P. J. H. Jones Combination Diet and Exercise Interventions for the Treatment of Dyslipidemia: an Effective Preliminary Strategy to Lower Cholesterol Levels? J. Nutr., August 1, 2005; 135(8): 1829 - 1835. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]