Plant sterol-enriched palm oil and cholesterol in hyperlipidemic adults
What it found
In 100 adults with high cholesterol, cooking with palm oil enriched with plant sterols lowered total and LDL cholesterol after 8 weeks compared with regular palm oil.
It did not change CRP, a marker of inflammation.
What they found
Studies in people
Cholesterol reduction
Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol dropped significantly in the plant sterol group compared with the control group. Total cholesterol fell by 6.08% and LDL cholesterol by 7.71% more than in the control group.
Lipid ratios improved
The ratios of total cholesterol to HDL and LDL to HDL were significantly lower in the plant sterol group at the end, both compared with their own start and compared with the control group.
No effect on CRP
There was no significant difference between the two groups in changes in CRP, a marker of inflammation. The plant sterol group did show a small rise in CRP from start to end, but the difference between groups was not significant.
Control group unchanged
In the control group, which received regular palm oil, there were no significant changes in blood lipids or CRP over the 8 weeks.
Plant sterol intake
People in the plant sterol group consumed on average 2.35 grams of plant sterols per day from the enriched oil, within the range estimated to have a cholesterol-lowering effect.
What the authors conclude
“The present study suggests that plant sterol-enriched palm oil used as cooking oil shows a potential to improve blood lipid profile, as evidenced by a significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol level, as well as TC/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios in hyperlipidemic individuals, but it has no similar effect on CRP level.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that plant sterol-enriched palm oil used as cooking oil shows a potential to improve blood lipid profile, as evidenced by a significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol level, as well as TC/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios in hyperlipidemic individuals, but it has no similar effect on CRP level.
- They say that incorporating plant sterols in palm oil used for cooking could be considered among potential relevant strategies to improve lipid profile, thus reducing cardiovascular risks in hyperlipidemic individuals, along with a healthy diet and lifestyle promotion.
- They advise that further comprehensive investigation is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety aspects of introducing such phytosterol-enriched product into a habitual diet.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see if palm oil, widely used for cooking in Indonesia, could carry plant sterols and improve blood lipids and inflammation in people with high cholesterol.
They ran an 8-week double-blinded randomised trial in 100 adults aged 25 to 60 with total cholesterol at or above 200 mg/dL in Bogor, Indonesia. Participants replaced their usual cooking oil with either plant sterol-enriched palm oil or regular palm oil. Blood lipids and CRP were measured at the start and end.
What it can’t tell you
- This trial lasted 8 weeks, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
- The study did not control for all factors that could affect CRP, such as physical activity or other health conditions, so the CRP result is uncertain.
- The trial was in Indonesian adults with high cholesterol, so the results may not apply to other groups.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by BASF; Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Financial Support System for Scientists and Research Teams (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study or in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data. The funder (BASF) has agreed with the content of the manuscript and with the decision to publish the results.
- Authors work at
- IPB University, Indonesia; Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland
The paper
- Title
- Plant Sterol-Enriched Palm Oil Intervention to Improve Lipid Profile and Inflammation Status in Hyperlipidemic Individuals
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Dewi M, Martianto D, Andarwulan N, Kazimierczak R, Średnicka-Tober D (2024). Plant Sterol-Enriched Palm Oil Intervention to Improve Lipid Profile and Inflammation Status in Hyperlipidemic Individuals. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu16193370Free full textPubMed 39408337DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error