10.01.03
Indication: Metabolism
Source: Am J Clin Nutr, June 2003;77(6):1385-9.
Research: The objective of this study was to establish whether the selective removal of phytosterols from wheat germ would increase the cholesterol absorption measured from test meals composed of wheat germ muffins. Wheat germ, which has a high content of phytosterols relative to total fat, was chosen as a low-fat test food. Cholesterol absorption was measured three times in 10 subjects. Each test meal was a muffin containing 30 mg heptadeuterated cholesterol tracer and, in random order, 80 grams original wheat germ containing 328 mg phytosterols, wheat germ from which phytosterols had been selectively extracted or extracted wheat germ reconstituted with purified phytosterols. Changes in cholesterol absorption were monitored by the measurement of tracer enrichment of plasma cholesterol four and five days after each meal with the use of negative ion mass spectrometry.
Results: The efficiency of cholesterol absorption from test meals was substantially lower after consumption of original wheat germ than after consumption of phytosterol-free wheat germ, which suggests that endogenous phytosterols in wheat germ and possibly in other low-fat vegetable foods may have important effects on cholesterol absorption and metabolism that are independent of major nutrients.
Source: Am J Clin Nutr, June 2003;77(6):1385-9.
Research: The objective of this study was to establish whether the selective removal of phytosterols from wheat germ would increase the cholesterol absorption measured from test meals composed of wheat germ muffins. Wheat germ, which has a high content of phytosterols relative to total fat, was chosen as a low-fat test food. Cholesterol absorption was measured three times in 10 subjects. Each test meal was a muffin containing 30 mg heptadeuterated cholesterol tracer and, in random order, 80 grams original wheat germ containing 328 mg phytosterols, wheat germ from which phytosterols had been selectively extracted or extracted wheat germ reconstituted with purified phytosterols. Changes in cholesterol absorption were monitored by the measurement of tracer enrichment of plasma cholesterol four and five days after each meal with the use of negative ion mass spectrometry.
Results: The efficiency of cholesterol absorption from test meals was substantially lower after consumption of original wheat germ than after consumption of phytosterol-free wheat germ, which suggests that endogenous phytosterols in wheat germ and possibly in other low-fat vegetable foods may have important effects on cholesterol absorption and metabolism that are independent of major nutrients.