Effect of plant stanol tablets on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering in patients on statin drugs

Am J Cardiol. 2006 Feb 1;97(3):376-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2005.08.056.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to show that plant sterols in tablet form provide additional low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering for patients on statin therapy. Dispersible phytosterol tablets were tested in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel clinical trial. Twenty-six patients who were following the American Heart Association Heart Healthy Diet and on long-term statin therapy were studied for 9 weeks. After 3 weeks of placebo treatment, the subjects were randomized to receive either 1.8 g of soy stanols or placebo for 6 weeks in addition to their usual statin regimen. Stanol tablets reduced LDL cholesterol 9.1% (p = 0.007) or 12.2 mg/dl. Total cholesterol was reduced by 12.9 mg/dl (p = 0.03). A strong inverse correlation (r(s) = -0.82, p = 0.0007) was found between the baseline LDL cholesterol and the percent change in LDL cholesterol observed after stanol treatment. The additional LDL cholesterol lowering with stanol/lecithin tablets provided a potential adjunctive therapy for patients who have not reached their target LDL cholesterol goal during statin therapy.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Synergism
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Dyslipidemias / blood
  • Dyslipidemias / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phosphatidylcholines / therapeutic use
  • Phytosterols / therapeutic use*
  • Tablets

Substances

  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Drug Combinations
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Phytosterols
  • Tablets