The role of plant stanols in the primary prevention of hypercholesterolemia in patients with arterial hypertension

Aim. To assess the efficacy and safety of plant stanols in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and disorders of lipid metabolism, without clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis. Material and methods. The study included 40 patients — men at the age of 50-55 years, with AH (stage 1) and cholesterol above 5,0 mmol/l and LDL cholesterol above 3,0 mmol/l with low and medium risk (SCORE — 1-4%). Patients with coronary artery disease and other clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis, secondary hypertension, liver diseases, diabetes mellitus, secondary dyslipoproteinemia, cardiovascular diseases requiring constant therapy, bronchial asthma were excluded from the study. Patients were randomized into 2 groups of 20 people. In the study group of patients within 3 months received plant stanols (2 tab./day), in the control group — only healthy diet. In addition, patients with high blood pressure received antihypertensive therapy. Assessment of lipid parameters (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) was performed at baseline and after 3 months. At the beginning of the study, after 3 months of the study patients underwent a full medical examination. Safety control of plant stanols was carried out by determination of liver enzymes (aspartic transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT)), before and after the completion of the study. Results. Patients of two groups were comparable in baseline characteristics (lipid parameters, blood pressure level). After 3 months of research beginning patients from study group have statistically significant decrease of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The average level of total cholesterol before treatment was 5,8±0,32 mmol/l, and after treatment — 5,3±0,32 mmol/l, p<0,001. The average level of LDL cholesterol before treatment was 3,6±0,26 mmol/l, and after treatment — 3,3±0,25 mmol/l, p<0,001. According to other lipid parameters (HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) significant differences are not obtained. As a result, there was a significant reduction in the total risk from 4% to 3,1%. As for the control group, the dynamics of lipid parameters were practically not observed. For example, the average level of total cholesterol before treatment was 5,7±0,39 mmol/l, and after treatment — 5,6±0,42 mmol/l. The average level of LDL cholesterol before treatment was 3,6±0,21 mmol/l, and after treatment — 3,6±0,21 mmol/l. The differences between the study and control groups in the reduction of total and LDL cholesterol were highly significant (p<0,001). The study did not reveal the dynamics of liver enzymes. The level of AST before treatment in the study group was 28,4±6,54, and after treatment — 29,5±5,56. ALT levels were 32,3±7,38 and 33,9±5,65, before and after the study, respectively. Conclusion. The study shows the high efficacy and safety of plant stanols. We found a significant decrease of the two most important parameters of lipid metabolism — total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.