Omega-3 and Plant Sterols, a Perfect Combination to Lower Cholesterol and Triglycerides
Omega 3 and plant sterols: remedies against high cholesterol and triglycerides
The intake of low doses of Omega three and plant sterols can reduce both cholesterol and triglyceride levels, lowering cardiovascular risk. In patients with high cholesterol levels, the simultaneous administration of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and sterols is associated with a reduction in triglyceride concentration between 9% and 16%, and LDL cholesterol by about 13%.
This is demonstrated by a study conducted by a team of researchers from the Netherlands in collaboration with Swedish scientists and published in the Journal of Nutrition.
Cholesterol is fought with phytosterols
Plant sterols and stanols are compounds present in plants and cannot be synthesized by humans, who therefore obtain them exclusively through diet. Foods richest in these substances are vegetable oils, nuts, cereals, and their derivatives. Phytosterols play an important role in cardiovascular health. Clinical data indicate that a daily consumption of 1.5–3 grams of phytosterols or stanols, taken with food, can reduce total cholesterol levels by 8% to 17%. They likely act in the gastrointestinal tract, where they contribute to reducing cholesterol absorption.
DHA, EPA, and plant sterols lower blood triglycerides after 4 weeks
The study involved 332 men and women with high cholesterol levels. Each was randomly administered 2.5 grams per day of sterols and different levels of Omega-3: 0.9, 1.3, and 1.8 grams per day of EPA + DHA for 4 weeks. A control group did not receive Omega-3. The results showed that for the 314 people who completed the study, triglyceride levels decreased in an Omega-3 dose-dependent manner, ranging from 9.3% to 16.2% compared to the control group. LDL cholesterol levels also decreased by 11.5–14.7% more than in the group that did not take Omega-3.
A solution to improve blood lipid profile
The results provide further evidence that treatment with a combination of fish oil and plant sterols can affect high triglycerides and cholesterol, and that the hypothesis that fish oil might negate the benefits of plant sterols is unfounded. The importance of these data is even greater considering that about 40% of adults over 25 worldwide have too high triglyceride concentrations, and this percentage is expected to increase due to the growing prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
According to the researchers, limiting exposure throughout life to risk factors such as high cholesterol can reduce the likelihood of coronary disease more than treatment with statins in old age, the drugs used to lower cholesterol. There is thus a growing need to manage risk factors like blood lipids to prevent coronary heart disease. Limited fat intake combined with consumption of plant sterols and fish oil can offer an interesting opportunity to improve the blood lipid profile. To stay updated on the latest scientific news on Omega-3, subscribe to our newsletter.
Source: R.T. Ras, I. Demonty, Y.E.M.P. Zebregs, J.F.A. Quadt, J. Olsson, E.A. Trautwein “Low Doses of Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid From Fish Oil Dose-Dependently Decrease Serum Triglyceride Concentrations in the Presence of Plant Sterols in Hypercholesterolemic Men and Women” Journal of Nutrition. Published online ahead of print, doi:10.3945/jn.114.192229
