Individuals with Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM) have an altered cholesterol metabolism as well as altered glucose metabolism. They are known to make more endogenous cholesterol and absorb cholesterol less than non-diabetic patients. Plants sterols have been shown in previous studies to reduce the total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol in individuals with high cholesterol. They have not been tested for efficacy in patients with NIDDM.
The June issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a small double blind randomized study that tested the efficacy of plant sterols against placebo in Type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic patients.
The participants in the treatment group were given 1.8 grams of plant sterols per day. Treatment period was 3 weeks. Overall the LDL cholesterol was lowered by 26% in the diabetic group and 15% in the non-diabetic group compared to placebo. Results were statistically significant, including a lowered absolute percentage of total cholesterol in the group with Type 2 diabetes. Non-HDL cholesterols excluding LDL were also lowered in both groups.
The authors concluded that plant sterols are an effective treatment for lowering cholesterol in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with high cholesterol. A recommendation for plant sterols in addition to current treatment for Type 2 diabetes is supported by the results of this study.
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