New clinical study: Plant stanol ester effectively lowers cholesterol in statin-treated type 1 diabetics
Raisio plc Press release 4.5.2011
New clinical study:
Plant stanol ester effectively lowers cholesterol in statin-treated type 1 diabetics
Plant stanol ester, the cholesterol-lowering ingredient in Benecol® products, has been found to deliver further cholesterol reductions in people with type 1 diabetes taking statin drugs. Incorporating plant stanol ester as part of the daily diet reduced average LDL-cholesterol by an extra 15 % over and above the cholesterol-lowering properties of statins. These new results were recently published online in the scientific journal, Atherosclerosis1.
The study, which was carried out at the University of Eastern Finland in Finland, recruited 24 participants with type 1 diabetes who were on stable cholesterol-lowering statin medication. The mean baseline LDL-cholesterol concentration was 2.0 mmol/l. The subjects consumed either plant stanol ester-containing vegetable oil-based spread (intervention group) or a corresponding control spread without plant stanol ester (control group) for four weeks. The intake of plant stanols in the intervention group was 3 grams per day. The subjects were advised to make no changes whatsoever to their usual diet and lifestyle and to remain on their prescribed statin treatment.
The results showed that plant stanol ester effectively lowered cholesterol. Total and "bad" LDL-cholesterol were reduced by 8% and 15%, respectively, in the intervention group compared with the control group, while triglyceride concentrations and “good” HDL-cholesterol remained unchanged.
Coronary heart disease is a major cause of death in type 1 diabetics, who have an increased risk of developing the disease. Therefore, reducing cholesterol levels is an important means of managing this particular patient group. Professor Helena Gylling MD, from the University of Helsinki in Finland, who was responsible for the study commented: "Compared with healthy populations, the absorption of cholesterol from the digestive tract into the body is increased in type 1 diabetics. So blocking this absorption is an effective means of lowering their blood cholesterol concentrations. Previous research had shown that plant stanol ester effectively lowered cholesterol in type 1 diabetics. However, this new study shows for the first time that plant stanol ester is an effective means of lowering cholesterol even in those type 1 diabetics who are already on stable statin treatment."
Plant stanol ester is an ingredient patented globally by Raisio, while Benecol is a trademark owned by Raisio. Benecol products are sold and marketed by Raisio's wide-ranging network of partners on five continents and in 30 countries. The cholesterol-lowering properties of plant stanol ester have been demonstrated in over 60 clinical studies in various populations and with different types of plant stanol ester-containing foods. Only Benecol products contain plant stanol ester.
References:
1) Hallikainen et al. Plant stanol esters lower LDL cholesterol level in statin-treated subjects with type 1 diabetes by interfering the absorption and synthesis of cholesterol.
Atherosclerosis (2011),doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2011.03.041.
2) Hallikainen et al. Effects of plant stanol esters on serum cholesterol concentrations, relative markers of cholesterol metabolism and endothelial function in type 1 diabetes. Atherosclerosis 2008; 199: 432-439.
RAISIO PLC
Heidi Hirvonen
Communications and IR Manager
tel. +358 50 567 3060
Further information:
Helena Gylling, MD, PhD, Professor at the University of Helsinki, tel. +358 50 3302402
Ingmar Wester, R&D Director, Benecol Division, tel. +358 50 601 32
Susanna Rosin, Science Communication Manager, Benecol Division, tel. +358 400 878637