Dietary plant sterols alter the serum plant sterol concentration but not the cholesterol precursor sterol concentrations in young children (the STRIP Study). Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project.

Plant sterol supplementation reduces serum cholesterol concentration but may increase serum plant sterol concentrations, especially in children. We determined whether natural dietary plant sterols derived mainly from vegetable oil or margarine in early childhood affect serum concentrations of plant sterols (campesterol and sitosterol) and cholesterol precursor sterols (Delta-8 cholestenol, desmosterol, and lathosterol), reflecting endogenous cholesterol synthesis. We measured the serum sterol concentrations using gas liquid chromatography in 20 healthy 13-mo-old intervention children in a randomized, prospective study designed to decrease exposure of the children to known environmental atherosclerosis risk factors and in 20 control children. The diet of the intervention children was rich in plant sterols due to replacement of milk fat with vegetable fat, whereas the diet of the control children contained only small amounts of plant sterols. The intervention children consumed twice as much plant sterols as the control children (P < 0.001). Their serum concentrations of campesterol and sitosterol were 75% and 44% higher, respectively, than those in the control children (P < 0.001 for both), but serum cholesterol precursor sterol concentrations did not differ between the two groups. We conclude that doubling dietary plant sterol intake almost doubles serum plant sterol concentrations in 13-mo-old children, but has no effect on endogenous cholesterol synthesis. Relative intestinal absorption of natural plant sterols from the diet in early childhood is similar to that in adults.

Intake of fatty acids in western Europe with emphasis on trans fatty acids: the TRANSFAIR Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the intake of trans fatty acids (TFA) and other fatty acids in 14 Western European countries. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: A maximum of 100 foods per country were sampled and centrally analysed. Each country calculated the intake of individual trans and other fatty acids, clusters of fatty acids and total fat in adults and/or the total population using the best available national food consumption data set. RESULTS: A wide variation was observed in the intake of total fat and (clusters) of fatty acids in absolute amounts. The variation in proportion of energy derived from total fat and from clusters of fatty acids was less. Only in Finland, Italy, Norway and Portugal total fat did provide on average less than 35% of energy intake. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) provided on average between 10% and 19% of total energy intake, with the lowest contribution in most Mediterranean countries. TFA intake ranged from 0.5% (Greece, Italy) to 2.1% (Iceland) of energy intake among men and from 0.8% (Greece) to 1.9% among women (Iceland) (1.2-6.7 g/d and 1.7-4.1 g/d, respectively). The TFA intake was lowest in Mediterranean countries (0.5-0.8 en%) but was also below 1% of energy in Finland and Germany. Moderate intakes were seen in Belgium, The Netherlands, Norway and UK and highest intake in Iceland. Trans isomers of C18:1 were the most TFA in the diet. Monounsaturated fatty acids contributed 9-12% of mean daily energy intake (except for Greece, nearly 18%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids 3-7%. CONCLUSION: The current intake of TFA in most Western European countries does not appear to be a reason for major concern. In several countries a considerable proportion of energy was derived from SFA. It would therefore be prudent to reduce intake of all cholesterol-raising fatty acids, TFA included.

Effect of extreme fish consumption on dietary and plasma antioxidant levels and fatty acid composition.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of high-fish and low-fish diets on plasma concentrations of fatty acids and selected antioxidants. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: The effects of fish consumption on dietary and plasma antioxidant levels and fatty acid composition were studied as part of a large dietary survey of Finnish adults (n = 1861). High-fish consumers were matched with low-fish consumers and 41 pairs were identified. The members of each pair were of the same sex, from the same 10 y age group, and from the same or adjacent areas. There were 21 men and 20 women in each group, with a mean age of 54.3 y. METHODS: The fish consumption of the subjects was investigated with a qualitative food questionnaire. Additionally, a 3 d food record was used to estimate the diet. Two indices were defined to describe the oxidation potential of the diets. The plasma alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, and beta-carotene concentrations and various fatty acids were analysed. RESULTS: The mean fish intake was 103 g/d in the high-fish and 5 g/d in the low-fish group. The dietary intakes of vitamin C, protein, total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, mercury, selenium, and salt and the theoretical oxidative potential were higher (P < 0.05) and the saturated fatty acid intake lower (P < 0.01) in the high-fish than in the low-fish group. The dietary vitamin E intake was similar in both groups but the ratio of dietary vitamin E/PUFA was higher (P < 0.01) in the high-fish than in the low-fish group (0.85 and 0.75, respectively). The plasma n-3 PUFAs were higher (P < 0.001) and n-6 PUFAs lower (P < 0.001) in the high-fish than in the low-fish group. There were no differences in plasma antioxidant levels between the groups. CONCLUSION: This study shows that extreme fish consumption does not affect plasma antioxidant levels.