FINNISH BENECOL® IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S TEN GREATEST DISCOVERIES IN NUTRITION
Raisio plc Press Release 23.2.2009
FINNISH BENECOL® IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S TEN GREATEST DISCOVERIES IN NUTRITION
The Finnish innovation-based, cholesterol-lowering food ingredient plant stanol
ester was recently selected as one of the ten greatest discoveries in nutrition
worldwide. The review1 published in European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in
January 2009 presented the greatest discoveries related to nutrition during the
past 30 years. The discoveries chosen were based on the views of the world's
leading nutrition researchers and solid research data.
The review emphasized the overwhelming research evidence of plant stanol ester's
efficacy: Benecol products are one of the few functional foods that can truly
lower the level of a risk factor for disease. Also the efficacy of Benecol
products was emphasized: The cholesterol-lowering effect of products containing
plant stanol ester is equivalent to the combined effect of all other favorable
dietary changes. Additionally, Benecol products have the advantage in that they
are specifically a dietary means to lowering cholesterol.
The importance of plant stanols was understood in 1990s with their incorporation
into foods in a way that even enhances their cholesterol-lowering potency. Here,
the Finnish innovation played a key role because it made it possible to produce
plant stanol ester suitable for food applications. Plant stanol ester is not
only effective, it is also a safe way to lower cholesterol because it partially
blocks the absorption of cholesterol from the digestive tract but plant stanols
themselves are not absorbed. Only Benecol products contain cholesterol-lowering
plant stanol ester.
Benecol®, the original cholesterol-lowering expert, is a global brand owned by
Raisio, and plant stanol ester is an ingredient globally patented by Raisio.
Benecol, the original expert in cholesterol lowering, is a trade mark owned
globally by Raisio and plant stanol ester is an ingredient patented globally by
Raisio.
Source:
1) Katan et al. Which are the greatest recent discoveries and the greatest
challenges in Nutrition? Eur J Clin Nutr 2009; 63: 2-10. (Available on the
internet at: http://www.nature.com/ejcn/index.html)
Raisio plc
Heidi Hirvonen
Communications Manager
Tel. +358 50 567 3060
Additional information:
Ingmar Wester, R&D Director, Ingredients Division, Raisio plc, tel. +358 50 601
32
Susanna Rosin, Nutrition Manager, Ingredients Division, Raisio plc, tel. +358
400 878637