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Low-Fat Spread Shown to Lower Bad Cholesterol
Nov. 8, 1999 (Atlanta) -- A low-fat spread made from soybean oil reduces bad cholesterol up to 8%, according to a study presented today at the American Heart Association's annual meeting. Researchers say the spread could help lower the risk of stroke and heart attack for millions of Americans.
In a recent study conducted by the Chicago Center for Clinical Research, 224 participants with moderately high total cholesterol used the low-fat spread, in combination with a low-fat/low-cholesterol diet, for five weeks. Subjects were randomly assigned to groups that used the spread in quantities of one gram or two grams per day.
Most physicians consider a total cholesterol level of less than 200 to be normal. High cholesterol can be treated with changes in diet and cholesterol-lowering drugs. Levels of both good and bad types of cholesterol determine total cholesterol levels.
Kevin Maki, PhD, and the chief investigator, tells WebMD, "the study showed that the spread reduced bad cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein [LDL] without reducing good cholesterol or high density-lipoprotein [HDL]. We also found that using more spread wasn't necessarily better." LDL dropped about 7.5% in the one-gram group versus about 8% in the two-gram group. "So consumers don't have to use a lot to lower their cholesterol. And this helps to keep the cost down," says Maki.
This is important news for Americans with high cholesterol. According to the American Heart Association, a cholesterol level of 240 increases the risk of heart disease by 50%. "That's because cholesterol is a fatty substance that deposits in the arteries and blocks blood flow to the brain and heart," says Maki. "Eventually, this can cause a stroke or heart attack. It's a fact that 'we are what we eat.'"
But preventing high cholesterol means doing more than using a low-fat spread. "Spreads are really an adjunct to a healthy diet," says Cindy Moore, MS, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Research shows that a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while low in animal fat reduces LDL up to 10%. The extra reduction from a low-fat spread can lower LDL up to 18%. Moore tells WebMD, "this means that some people won't need drugs to lower their total cholesterol."
That is not to say that low-fat spreads are a replacement for cholesterol-lowering drugs. "People with very high cholesterol will probably continue on medication, although it's possible that their dose will decrease," says Moore. "Of course, anyone currently taking prescription medications to lower their cholesterol should continue to do so. And they should tell their doctor they're using a low-fat spread."
At present, there are two such spreads on the market. Both products are derived from plant extracts, although the spread used in this study, called Take Control, contains soybean oil, and the other, Benecol, contains pine tree oil. Each brand has been shown to lower cholesterol effectively and was approved by the FDA this year. Moore says, "the differences that seem to mean the most to consumers so far are taste and texture."
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