Plant sterol margarine plus statins cuts cholesterol further
4 October 2002
Adding a plant sterol-ester margarine to statin therapy reduces LDL cholesterol to levels equivalent to those achieved by doubling the dose of statin, Australian researchers say.
'These results have enormous implications for doctors,' lead researcher and head of the cholesterol clinic at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital Associate Professor Leon Simons said.
'It's a way of lowering the amount of LDL cholesterol ... without actually using extra drugs or, for some people, a way to lower cholesterol without using drugs at all.'
The randomised, double-blind study involved 226 adults with hypercholesterolaemia.
Over 4 weeks, participants used one of 4 treatments: 400 ug of cerivastatin and 25 g/day regular margarine; 400 ug cerivastatin and 25 g/day sterol-ester margarine; placebo (dummy tablets) and 25 g/day of regular margarine; or placebo plus 25 g/day sterol-ester margarine.
Flora (the regular margarine), Flora pro-activ or Take Control (plant sterol-ester margarine) were eaten over 2 mealtimes.
'Although cerivastatin is no longer in clinical usage, its mechanism of action is very similar to other statins,' Professor Simons said.
Cerivastatin produced a significant 32 per cent reduction in LDL cholesterol (compared with placebo), and sterol-ester margarine resulted in an 8 per cent reduction (compared with regular margarine).
Together, there was an additive effect of a 39% reduction of LDL cholesterol, which the researchers said was equivalent to doubling the dose of statin (American Journal of Cardiology 2002; 90: 49-52).
Bayer and Unilever Australasia funded the study.
Last Reviewed: 02 October 2002
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 4/10/02
