Stanol composition and the use thereof

Abstract

A stanol composition containing in addition to sitostanol as the main component, also a substantial amount of at least 10% campestanol has been found to effectively lower serum cholesterol levels when incorporated in edible commodities. Upon esterification the composition is especially useful in edible fats and oils and in fat-containing foods.

1 . A composition, comprising a stanol mixture comprising 
 a sitostanol component selected from the group consisting of sitostanol, a sitostanol fatty acid ester, and a combination thereof; and    a campestanol component comprising a campestanol fatty acid ester,    wherein the campestanol fatty acid ester is present in an amount of 20 to 40 weight % of the stanol mixture, calculated as free stanols.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sitostanol fatty acid ester is present in the stanol mixture.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the campestanol fatty acid ester is present in an amount of 25 to 35 weight % of the stanol mixture.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the campestanol fatty acid ester is present in an amount of about 30 weight % of the stanol mixture.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the stanol mixture is derived from plant sterols.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the stanol mixture is derived from vegetable oil sterols.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the stanol mixture is derived from corn, soybean or rapeseed sterols.  
     
     
         8 . A food composition, comprising a nutritional substance and a blood cholesterol lowering effective amount of the stanol mixture of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         9 . The food composition of  claim 8 , wherein the nutritional substance is selected from the group consisting of cooking oil, margarine, butter, mayonnaise, salad dressing, shortening and cheese.  
     
     
         10 . A food composition, comprising a nutritional substance and a blood serum cholesterol lowering effective amount of the stanol mixture of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         11 . The food composition of  claim 10 , wherein the nutritional substance is selected from the group consisting of cooking oil, margarine, butter, mayonnaise, salad dressing, shortening and cheese.  
     
     
         12 . The food composition of  claim 10 , wherein the campestanol fatty acid ester is present in an amount of 25 to 35 weight % of the stanol mixture.  
     
     
         13 . The food composition of  claim 10 , wherein the campestanol fatty acid ester is present in an amount of about 30 weight % of the stanol mixture.  
     
     
         14 . A method for lowering the cholesterol level in blood serum of a human subject, comprising administering to the subject a blood serum cholesterol level reducing effective amount of the stanol mixture of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A method for lowering the cholesterol level in blood serum of a human subject, comprising administering to the subject a blood serum cholesterol level reducing effective amount of the stanol mixture of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the stanol mixture is administered orally.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the stanol mixture is administered as a component of a food composition.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the food composition comprises a nutritional substance selected from the group consisting of cooking oil, margarine, butter, mayonnaise, salad dressing, shortening and cheese.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the stanol mixture is administered at a daily dose of about 3 grams per day.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sitostanol fatty acid ester, if present, and the campestanol fatty acid ester are synthetically produced.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sitostanol fatty acid ester, if present, and the campestanol fatty acid ester are prepared by a method comprising the step of esterifying free sitostanol, free campestanol, or both free sitostanol and free campestanol.  
     
     
         22 . A food composition, comprising a nutritional substance and a blood serum cholesterol lowering effective amount of the stanol mixture of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the stanol mixture is administered as a component of a food composition.  
     
     
         24 . A food composition, comprising a nutritional substance and a blood serum cholesterol lowering effective amount of the stanol mixture of  claim 21 .  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the stanol mixture is administered orally.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the stanol mixture is administered as a component of a food composition.  
     
     
         27 . A food composition, comprising a nutritional substance and a blood serum cholesterol lowering effective amount of the stanol mixture of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         28 . A method for lowering the cholesterol level in blood serum of a human subject, comprising administering to the subject a blood serum cholesterol level reducing effective amount of the stanol mixture of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the stanol mixture is administered orally.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the stanol mixture is administered as a component of a food composition.  
     
     
         31 . A method for reducing the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines into the bloodstream of a human subject, comprising orally administering to the subject a cholesterol absorption reducing effective amount of the stanol mixture of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the stanol mixture is administered as a component of a food composition.  
     
     
         33 . A method for reducing the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines into the bloodstream of a human subject, comprising orally administering to the subject a cholesterol absorption reducing effective amount of the stanol mixture of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the stanol mixture is administered as a component of a food composition.  
     
     
         35 . A method for reducing the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines into the bloodstream of a human subject, comprising orally administering to the subject a cholesterol absorption reducing effective amount of the stanol mixture of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the stanol mixture is administered as a component of a food composition.