Polyunsaturated fatty acids and not plant sterols naturally-occurring in food influence lipid profile in obese women.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the consumption level of plant sterols naturally occurring in diet on the lipid profile in obese women with dyslipidemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study population was primarily comprised of 120 obese women aged over 55 from Poland, with twenty seven subjects dropping out of the study due to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Anthropometric appraisal included body height and weight, as well as waist and hip circumferences. Lipid profile was determined by commercially available enzymatic methods. Nutritional data, including plant sterols intake were assessed by 7-day food records. RESULTS The multiple linear regression, adjusted for age, height, Body Mass Index and Waist to Hip Ratio, showed the relation of polyunsaturated fatty acids with LDL-cholesterol concentration (p < 0.05). Natural plant sterols intake was estimated at Median = 146 mg/day. The correlation between LDL-cholesterol concentration and plant sterols intake was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that consumption of naturally-occurring polyunsaturated fatty acids and not plant sterols is connected with lower LDL-cholesterol concentration in obese women.