Plant-based sterols and stanols in health & disease: “Consequences of human development in a plant-based environment?”

Publication date: Available online 26 February 2019Source: Progress in Lipid ResearchAuthor(s): J. Plat, S. Baumgartner, T. Vanmierlo, D. Lütjohann, K.L. Calkins, D.G. Burrin, G. Guthrie, C. Thijs, A.A. Te Velde, Vreugdenhil ACE, R. Sverdlov, J. Garssen, K. Wouters, E.A. Trautwein, T.G. Wolfs, C. van Gorp, M.T. Mulder, N.P. Riksen, A.K. Groen, R.P. MensinkAbstractDietary plant sterols and stanols as present in our diet and in functional foods are well-known for their inhibitory effects on intestinal cholesterol absorption, which translates into lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. However, emerging evidence suggests that plant sterols and stanols have numerous additional health effects, which are largely unnoticed in the current scientific literature. Therefore, in this review we pose the intriguing question “What would have occurred if plant sterols and stanols had been discovered and embraced by disciplines such as immunology, hepatology, pulmonology or gastroenterology before being positioned as cholesterol-lowering molecules?” What would then have been the main benefits and fields of application of plant sterols and stanols today? We here discuss potential effects ranging from its presence and function intrauterine and in breast milk towards a potential role in the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cardiovascular disease (CVD), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and allergic asthma. Interestingly, effects clearly depend on the r...
Source: Progress in Lipid Research - Category: Lipidology Source Type: research