Vegapure® Reduces LDL

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. Plant sterol esters (1.3 g/d as Vegapure®, from Cognis Nutrition & Health) improved lipid profile levels among hypercholesterolemic subjects after three weeks. In the double blind, placebo-controlled, sequential study, published in Lipids in Health and Disease (ePub ahead of print, April 9, 2007; DOI:10.1186/1476-511X-6-11), 16 subjects participated in a four-week placebo phase followed by a two-week wash-out period and a four-week treatment phase. During this final part of the study, participants consumed 1.3 g/d of Vegapure in capsules and maintained normal diets and physical activity. Blood samples were collected at days seven, 21 and 28 in each phase. Primary measurements monitored between and within phases were change in plasma total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Secondary measurements observed were change in triglyceride, lipoprotein ratios, (TC/HDL, LDL/HDL) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Compared to placebo, LDL-cholesterol was significantly reduced by 7 percent and 4 percent (P < 0.05) at weeks three and four; HDL at week three of the treatment significantly increased by 9 percent (P < 0.01). TC/HDL ratio was down 8 percent at both weeks three and four; and LDL/HDL ratio was down 6 percent in week three and 10 percent at week four. CRP and triglycerides did not differ either between the two phases or during the treatment phase.

In just three weeks after taking the plant sterol esters capsules, participants saw their LDL cholesterol drop by a significant 4 percent which could translate to a 5- to 10-percent reduction in cardiovascular risk in the first five years, and by 10-percent over a life time, said David Cai, Ph.D., senior scientist, Cognis Nutrition & Health, and an author of the study.

Researchers concluded Vegapureat the minimum dosage recommended by the Food and Drug Administartion (FDA)is effective in improving lipid profiles among hypercholesterolemic subjects in a free-living setting. They also noted to achieve better lipid lowering results, higher dosages combined with diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol are recommended. This is the first study to demonstrate that plant sterol esters in capsules are equally as effective as in foods, and esters are a better sterol form for soft gel capsules than free sterols or stanols, Cai said.