Phytosterol-enriched margarine substitution in the management of familial hypercholesterolaemia

Abstract

The primary objective was to substitute phytosterol and regula margarine into the diets of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) patients and to investigate whether the phytosterol containing margarine had a cholesterol lowering effect. Another objective was to investigate immune responses to phytosterols. A randomized double-blind cross-over study in which subjects with FH consumed 20g of regular or phytosterol margarine for a period of 6 weeks on each margarine, after which a washout period of 4 weeks was followed. There were 5 visits in total, visit 1 being the collection of baseline data, visit 2 the randomisation to either of the regular of phytosterol margarine periods, visit 3 for the cross-ver to the alternative margarine form, visit 4 marked the onset of washout period and visit 5, was the last evaluation visit. Margarine use was in addition to current, albeit limite, pharmacological treatment with statins.