Plant stanol ester: review of cholesterol-lowering efficacy and implications for coronary heart disease risk reduction.

Plant stanol ester has been shown in over 20 studies to be an effective and safe cholesterol-lowering substance. Randomized, placebo-controlled studies indicate that 2-3 g/day of plant stanol ester significantly reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by about 10%-20%. These results have been consistently found in various groups, including young adult and elderly men, pre- and postmenopausal women, children with and without familial hypercholesterolemia, type II diabetics, and patients with coronary heart disease. Plant stanol ester has also been shown to significantly augment the cholesterol-lowering effect of statins. No clinically significant adverse effects have been detected in studies or in general use in Finland, where foods fortified with plant stanol ester have been available since 1995. Results of studies with plant stanol ester have important implications for both the clinical and public health approaches to coronary heart disease risk reduction. (c) 2000 by CHF, Inc.