植物甾醇与心血管疾病的研究进展和应用现状

植物甾醇是植物中存在的一大类化学物质的总称,包括植物甾醇和植物甾烷醇。植物甾醇的化学结构与胆固醇相似,对脂代谢具有调节作用。本文对植物甾醇/植物甾烷醇降血脂、预防动脉粥样硬化等心血管疾病研究进展及其应用现状进行综述。     

高效液相色谱测定血清中的非胆因醇甾醇

本文介绍一种用高效液相色谱同时测定血清中２４－脱氢胆固醇、７－烯胆甾烷醇、菜油甾醇、胆甾烷醇和β－谷甾醇的方法。血清加内标（６－氯豆甾醇）后用氢氧化钾醇溶液皂化,用正已烷提取其中的各种甾醇,将提出的甾醇衍生为苯氨基甲酸酯,用ＨＰＬＣ分离测定。本法样品处理简单,色谱分析时间短,批内和批间变异系数分别为２．２～３．８％和３．３～６．７％。本文也首报告我国成年人血清非胆固醇甾醇水平,５种甾醇血清深度的总     

高效液相色谱测定血清中的非胆固醇甾醇

本文介绍一种用高效波相色谱（ＨＰＬＣ）同时测定血清中２４－脱氢胆固醇、７－烯胆甾烷醇、菜油甾醇、胆甾烷醇和β－谷甾醇的方法。血清加内标（６－氯豆甾醇）后用氢氧化钾醇溶液皂化,用正己烷提取其中的各种甾醇,将提出的甾醇衍生为苯氨基甲酸酯,用ＨＰＬＣ分离测定。本法样品处理简单,色谱分析时间短,批内和批间变异系数分别为２．２～３．８％和３．３～６．７％。本文也首次报告我国成年人血清非胆固醇甾醇水平,５种甾醇血清浓度的总和平均为１．５４ｍｇ／ｄｌ,是胆固醇的０．８６％。     

亚洲玉米螟对常见植物甾醇代谢利用研究

亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furndcalis G.在缺少甾醇的饲料上不能正常生长发育,能通过脱烷基化作用将△⁵-植物甾醇,如谷甾醇和豆甾醇脱去支链上的烷基变成胆甾醇加以利用,而对△⁷-烯甾烷醇的代谢则有困难。     

气相色谱法同时测定人血清中角鲨烯和5种非胆固醇类固醇的报告

目的:建立气相色谱-氢火焰离子化检测器同时测定人血清中角鲨烯及2,4-脱氢胆甾烷醇、7-烯胆甾烷醇、菜油固醇、豆固醇和β-谷固醇等5种非胆固醇类固醇的分析方法,为了解患者胆固醇代谢个体差异提供检测手段.方法:通过碱性醇溶液皂化、正己烷提取、硅烷化试剂衍生等步骤对血清样品进行前处理.选用以下条件检测:HP-5石英毛细管柱(30 m×0.32mm×0.25μm);初始柱温150℃,保持3 min,程序升温速率30℃/min至250℃,再以5℃/min升至280℃,保持30 min;氢火焰离子化检测器(FID)温度290℃;进样口温度290℃;进样口压力:15 psi;不分流模式;进样1μL.结果:角鲨烯、2,4-脱氢胆甾烷醇、7-烯胆甾烷醇、菜油固醇、豆固醇和β-谷固醇的检出限分别为0.011 mg/dL,0.0058mg/dL,0.018mg/dL,0.0089mg/dL,0.047mg/dL,0.018 mg/dL;加标回收率分别为在95～102%之间,日内变异系数为0.98%～2.71%(n=5),日间变异系数为1.26%～5.83%(n=5).结论:气相色谱-氢火焰离子化检测法可同时测定人血清中角鲨烯和5种非胆固醇类固醇,并具有良好的准确度和精密性,12h内的稳定性好,可用于患者胆固醇代谢个体差异分析.     

植物甾醇生理功能的线粒体调控机制

植物甾醇是一类在植物中广泛存在的生物活性物质,在食品、医药、化妆品等领域具有广阔应用前景.植物甾醇作为胆固醇类似物可抑制胆固醇肠道吸收进而降低血液中胆固醇水平、降低心血管疾病风险;此外,植物甾醇还具有抑癌、抗炎退热、抗氧化和类激素等多种功能.从亚细胞及分子水平深入探究植物甾醇的生物作用机制有助于充分开发植物甾醇的应用价值.线粒体是细胞能量物质代谢最重要的场所,胆固醇代谢、癌细胞增殖与凋亡、氧化应激和炎症反应等都与线粒体功能密切相关.近年来研究提示植物甾醇可在多种模型中调控线粒体功能,这可能是植物甾醇发挥各种生物学功能的重要潜在机制.本文将首先整理归纳植物甾醇生物学功能,并在此基础上详细讨论其线粒体相关调控机制,以期为领域内基础研究者提供前沿思路和进展报告,并为植物甾醇的应用提供参考依据.     

九头狮子草化学成分的研究

从九头狮子草种分离得到9个化合物,分别鉴定为:正十八烷(1)、cholest-5-en-3β-oxyl hexadecanoate(2)、硬脂酸(3)、软脂酸(4)、三十三烷醇(5)、β-谷甾醇(6)β-谷甾醇和豆甾醇的混合物(7)、β-谷甾醇和豆甾醇的葡萄糖苷(8)、尿囊素(9).其中化合物1～5系首次从本植物中分得.     

ABC转运体超家族对胆固醇吸收和血浆植物甾醇水平的调节作用

人们对控制胆固醇吸收和血浆植物甾醇水平的分子基础了解尚少.ABCG5和ABCG8的发现使得理解甾醇吸收的分子基础获得突破.ABCG5和ABCG8主要涉及植物甾醇代谢,而其他基因涉及胆固醇吸收.最近,一种新胆固醇吸收阻止剂（ezetimibe）的问世,给胆固醇吸收和血浆植物甾醇水平基因控制研究提供新的亮点.主要综述胆固醇吸收和血浆植物甾醇水平的基因控制,关注调节它们的共同点和不同点,讨论这一领域的最近发展和展望未来希望.     

植物甾醇酯合成研究进展

植物甾醇广泛存在于植物的根、茎、叶、果实和种子中,易受光、热、氧化等作用而被分解,具有生物利用率低、水溶性和脂溶性较差等特点。植物甾醇与脂肪酸酯化生成的植物甾醇酯可以有效降低植物甾醇的氧化率,具有更好的脂溶性和降血清、胆固醇的能力,更易被人体吸收。作为一类新型的功能食品添加剂,植物甾醇酯的市场需求量逐年增长。对植物甾醇酯的原料植物甾醇和脂肪酸来源进行了简单介绍,就近年来国内外植物甾醇酯的合成方法进行了系统阐述,重点介绍了酸/碱化学催化法和脂肪酶催化合成方法,对这两类方法的优缺点分别进行了评价,并对未来研究的重点内容和待突破的核心技术进行了展望。     

脂肪酶催化合成植物甾醇酯探讨

植物甾醇在防治心血管疾病、降低胆固醇等方面功效显著,但因其脂溶性和水溶性较差,影响了其在医药、食品和化工等行业的应用。通过脂肪酶催化合成植物甾醇酯,极大的提高了植物甾醇的生物利用性,具有绿色环保、低能耗、反应温和等诸多优点。本文简要介绍了植物甾醇和植物甾醇酯的生理功能,阐述了脂肪酶催化合成植物甾醇酯工艺,以供参考。     

Regulation of cholesterol metabolism by dietary plant sterols

Renewal has occurred in the use of plant sterols for the treatment of hypercholesterolemias. A novel development was to convert plant sterols to corresponding stanols and esterify them to fat soluble form. In contrast to the crystalline plant sterols or stanols, plant stanol esters can be easily consumed during normal food intake in soluble form in different fat-containing food constituents when they have a potent cholesterol-lowering effect, shown in normo- and hypercholesterolemic men and women without or with coronary heart disease, children and diabetes. Cholesterol lowering is approximately 10% for total and 15% for LDL cholesterol, with the respective values for stanol ester margarine (2-3 g/day stanols) being 15% and 20%. Stanol esters reduce cholesterol absorption efficiency by up to 65%, increase cholesterol elimination in feces as cholesterol itself, usually not as bile acids, and stimulate cholesterol synthesis. Serum beta-carotene level is lowered, but no fat malabsorption or lowering of serum fat soluble vitamins have been observed. In contrast to plant sterols, stanols and their esters are minimally absorbed and they reduce serum plant sterol concentrations, also preventing statin-induced increase of plant sterols. Stanol ester margarine has been included in dietary treatment of hypercholesterolemia followed by the addition of drug treatment in resistant cases.     

Pharmacological properties of plant sterols in vivo and in vitro observations

Plant sterols have been investigated as one of the safe potential alternative methods in lowering plasma cholesterol levels. Several human studies have shown that plant sterols/stanols significantly reduce plasma total and LDL cholesterol. In this article, pharmacological characteristics of plant sterols/stanols have been summarized and discussed. In particular, experimental data that demonstrate the effects of dietary phytosterols on lipid metabolism and development of atherosclerotic lesions have been critically reviewed. Despite their similar chemical structures, phytosterols and cholesterol differ markedly from each other in regard to their pharmacological characteristics including intestinal absorption and metabolic fate. Compared to cholesterol, plant sterols have poor intestinal absorption. The most and best studied effects of plant sterols are their inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption. Other biological activities of phytosterols such as effects on lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activity, bile acid synthesis, oxidation and uptake of lipoproteins, hepatic and lipoprotein lipase activities and coagulation system have been linked to their anti-atherogenic properties. Moreover, evidence for beneficial effects of plant sterols on disorders such as cutaneous xanthomatosis, colon cancer and prostate hyperplasia has been discussed. Finally, the potential adverse effects of plant sterols as well as pathophysiology of hereditary sitosterolemia are also reviewed. In conclusion, more pharmacokinetic data are needed to better understand metabolic fate of plant sterols/stanols and their fatty acid esters as well as their interactions with other nutraceutical/pharmaceutical agents.     

Metabolic effects of plant sterols and stanols (Review)

High serum LDL cholesterol concentration is a major risk factor for cardiovascular complications. This risk can be lowered by diet. In this respect foods containing plant sterol or stanol esters can be useful for mildly- and hypercholesteraemic subjects. Plant sterols and stanols, which are structurally related to cholesterol, decrease the incorporation of dietary and biliary cholesterol into micelles. This lowers cholesterol absorption. Furthermore, these components increase ABC-transporter expression, which may also contribute to the decreased cholesterol absorption. Consequently, cholesterol synthesis and LDL receptor activity increase, which ultimately leads to decreased serum LDL cholesterol concentrations. Animal studies have further shown that these dietary components may also lower atherosclerotic lesion development. Plant sterols and stanols also lower plasma lipid-standardized concentrations of the hydrocarbon carotenoids, but not those of the oxygenated cartenoids and tocopherols. Also, vitamin A and D concentrations are not affected. Although absorption of plant sterols and stanols (0.02-3.5%) is low compared to cholesterol (35-70%), small amounts are found in the circulation and may influence other physiological functions. However, there is no consistent evidence that plant sterols or stanols can change the risk of colon or prostate cancer, or immune status. In conclusion, plant sterols and stanols effectively reduce serum LDL cholesterol and atherosclerotic risk. In addition potential effects of plant sterols and stanols on other metabolic processes remain to be elucidated.     

Increased incorporation of dietary plant sterols and cholesterol correlates with decreased expression of hepatic and intestinal Abcg5 and Abcg8 in diabetic BB rats

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of dietary plant sterols and stanols on sterol incorporation and sterol-regulatory gene expression in insulin-treated diabetic rats and nondiabetic control rats. Diabetic BioBreeding (BB) and control BB rats were fed a control diet or a diet supplemented with plant sterols or plant stanols (5 g/kg diet) for 4 weeks. Expression of sterol-regulatory genes in the liver and intestine was assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Diabetic rats demonstrated increased tissue accumulation of cholesterol and plant sterols and stanols compared to control rats. This increase in cholesterol and plant sterols and stanols was associated with a marked decrease in hepatic and intestinal Abcg5 (ATP-binding cassette transporter G5) and Abcg8 (ATP-binding cassette transporter G8) expressions in diabetic rats, as well as decreased mRNA levels of several other genes involved in sterol regulation. Plant sterol or plant stanol supplementation induced the accumulation of plant sterols and stanols in tissues in both rat strains, but induced a greater accumulation of plant sterols and stanols in diabetic rats than in control rats. Surprisingly, only dietary plant sterols decreased cholesterol levels in diabetic rats, whereas dietary plant stanols caused an increase in cholesterol levels in both diabetic and control rats. Therefore, lower expression levels of Abcg5/Abcg8 in diabetic rats may account for the increased accumulation of plant sterols and cholesterol in these rats.     

Plant sterols and stanols: effects on mixed micellar composition and LXR (target gene) activation

Plant stanols and sterols of the 4-desmethyl family (e.g., sitostanol and sitosterol) effectively decrease LDL cholesterol concentrations, whereas 4,4-dimethylsterols (alpha-amyrin and lupeol) do not. Serum carotenoid concentrations, however, are decreased by both plant sterol families. The exact mechanisms underlying these effects are not known, although effects on micellar composition have been suggested. With a liver X receptor (LXR) coactivator peptide recruitment assay, we showed that plant sterols and stanols from the 4-desmethylsterol family activated both LXRalpha and LXRbeta, whereas 4,4-dimethyl plant sterols did not. In fully differentiated Caco-2 cells, the functionality of this effect was shown by the increased expression of ABCA1, one of the known LXR target genes expressed by Caco-2 cells in measurable amounts. The LXR-activating potential of the various plant sterols/stanols correlated positively with ABCA1 mRNA expression. Reductions in serum hydrocarbon carotenoids could be explained by the effects of the 4-desmethyl family and 4,4-dimethylsterols on micellar carotenoid incorporation. Our findings indicate that the decreased intestinal absorption of cholesterol and carotenoids by plant sterols and stanols is caused by two distinct mechanisms.     

Effects of plant sterols and stanols on intestinal cholesterol metabolism: suggested mechanisms from past to present

Plant sterols and stanols are natural food ingredients found in plants. It was already shown in 1950 that they lower serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations. Meta-analysis has reported that a daily intake of 2.5 g plant sterols/stanols reduced serum LDL-C concentrations up to 10%. Despite many studies, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the proposed mechanisms that have been presented over the past decades will be described and discussed in the context of the current knowledge. In the early days, it was suggested that plant sterols/stanols compete with intestinal cholesterol for incorporation into mixed micelles as well as into chylomicrons. Next, the focus shifted toward cellular processes. In particular, a role for sterol transporters localized in the membranes of enterocytes was suggested. All these processes ultimately lowered intestinal cholesterol absorption. More recently, the existence of a direct secretion of cholesterol from the circulation into the intestinal lumen was described. First results in animal studies suggested that plant sterols/stanols activate this pathway, which also explains the increased fecal neutral sterol content and as such could explain the cholesterol-lowering activity of plant sterols/stanols.     

Plant sterol or stanol esters retard lesion formation in LDL receptor-deficient mice independent of changes in serum plant sterols

Statins do not always decrease coronary heart disease mortality, which was speculated based on increased serum plant sterols observed during statin treatment. To evaluate plant sterol atherogenicity, we fed low density lipoprotein-receptor deficient (LDLr(+/-)) mice for 35 weeks with Western diets (control) alone or enriched with atorvastatin or atorvastatin plus plant sterols or stanols. Atorvastatin decreased serum cholesterol by 22% and lesion area by 57%. Adding plant sterols or stanols to atorvastatin decreased serum cholesterol by 39% and 41%. Cholesterol-standardized serum plant sterol concentrations increased by 4- to 11-fold during sterol plus atorvastatin treatment versus stanol plus atorvastatin treatment. However, lesion size decreased similarly in the sterol plus atorvastatin (-99% vs. control) and the stanol plus atorvastatin (-98%) groups, with comparable serum cholesterol levels, suggesting that increased plant sterol concentrations are not atherogenic. Our second study confirms this conclusion. Compared with lesions after a 33 week atherogenic period, lesion size further increased in controls (+97%) during 12 more weeks on the diet, whereas 12 weeks with the addition of plant sterols or stanols decreased lesion size (66% and 64%). These findings indicate that in LDLr(+/-) mice 1) increased cholesterol-standardized serum plant sterol concentrations are not atherogenic, 2) adding plant sterols/stanols to atorvastatin further inhibits lesion formation, and 3) plant sterols/stanols inhibit the progression or even induce the regression of existing lesions.     

Study of thermodynamic parameters for solubilization of plant sterol and stanol in bile salt micelles

We investigated the difference between the molecular structures of plant sterols and stanols that affect the solubilization of cholesterol in bile salt micelles (in vitro study). First, the aqueous solubility of beta-sitosterol, beta-sitostanol, and campesterol was determined by considering the specific radioactivity by using a fairly small quantity of each radiolabeled compound. The order of their aqueous solubilities was as follows: cholesterol > campesterol > beta-sitostanol > beta-sitosterol. The maximum solubility of cholesterol and the above mentioned sterol/stanol in sodium taurodeoxycholate and sodium taurocholate solutions (single solubilizate system) was measured. Moreover, the preferential solubilization of cholesterol in bile salt solutions was systematically studied by using different types of plant sterols/stanols. The solubilization results showed that the cholesterol-lowering effect was similar for sterols and stanol. Thermodynamic analysis was applied to these experimental results. The Gibbs energy change (Delta G degrees ) for the solubilization of plant sterols/stanols showed a negative value larger than that for cholesterol.     

Comparison of the intestinal uptake of cholesterol,plant sterols,and stanols in mice

The recent identification of the aberrant transport proteins ABCG5 and ABCG8 resulting in sitosterolemia suggests that intestinal uptake of cholesterol is an unselective process, and that discrimination between cholesterol and plant sterols takes place at the level of sterol efflux from the enterocyte. Although plant sterols are structurally very similar to cholesterol, differing only in their side chain length, they are absorbed from the intestine to a markedly lower extent. In order to further evaluate the process of discrimination, three different sterols (cholesterol, campesterol, sitosterol) and their corresponding 5 alpha-stanols (cholestanol, campestanol, sitostanol) were compared concerning their concentration in the proximal small intestine, in serum, and in bile after a single oral dose of deuterated compounds. The data obtained support the hypothesis that i) the uptake of sterols and stanols is an extremely rapid process, ii) discrimination probably takes place on the level of reverse transport back into the gut lumen, iii) plant stanols are taken up, but not absorbed to a measurable extent, and iv) the process of discrimination probably also exists at the level of biliary excretion. The range of structural alterations that decrease intestinal absorption and increase biliary excretion is: 1) campesterol, 2) cholestanol-sitosterol, and 3) campestanol-sitostanol.     

A comparison of the LDL-cholesterol lowering efficacy of plant stanols and plant sterols over a continuous dose range: results of a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials

Purpose

To determine if plant stanols and plant sterols differ with respect to their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-CH) lowering efficacies across a continuous dose range.

Methods

Dose-response relationships were evaluated separately for plant stanols and plant sterols and reductions in LDL-CH, using a first-order elimination function.

Results

Altogether, 113 publications and 1 unpublished study report (representing 182 strata) complied with the pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the assessment. The maximal LDL-CH reductions for plant stanols (16.4%) and plant stanol ester (17.1%) were significantly greater than the maximal LDL-CH reductions for plant sterols (8.3%) and plant sterol ester (8.4%). These findings persisted in several additional analyses.

Discussion and conclusions

Intakes of plant stanols in excess of the recommended 2 g/day dose are associated with additional and dose-dependent reductions in LDL-CH, possibly resulting in further reductions in the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).