| Phytosterols are chemicals naturally found in vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, and some tree products. It has been shown that plant sterols inhibit cholesterol absorption, thereby lowering plasma total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels without significantly altering high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or triglycerides (TG). Cholesterol-lowering effects of phytosterols are associated with a significant reduction in atherosclerosis in apo E-knokout (apo E-KO) mice.; The interactions between phytosterols and non-statin lipid-lowering agents have not been studied. Thus, it was hypothesized that a combination of phytosterols with niacin or fenofibrate will synergistically impact lipoprotein profile and atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E deficient (apo E-KO) mice.; The results suggest that: First, addition of plant sterols to niacin may beneficially alter plasma lipoprotein profile and consequently affect atherogenesis in apo E-KO mice. Second, addition of phytosterols to fenofibrate did not result in reductions in plasma cholesterol level and atherosclerotic lesion size in apo E-KO mice. Third, a combination of phytosterols plus fenofibrate or niacin do not appear to change the morphology of the liver and kidney tissues. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
