Nutritional Intervention Study of the Effect of a Phytosterol-rich Extract on the Lipid Profile

A total of 45 participants with hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol>200 mg/dL) will be recruited. Participants must not be taking any medication or nutritional supplement aimed at lowering cholesterol levels. Social networks and advertisements at the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) and the Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS) will be used to recruit the individuals.

First, participants will attend to an informative session to learn in more detail about the objectives of the study and the procedures to be followed. In this session participants will sign the informed consent.

They will be divided into two groups:

• One group (n=23) that will take an extract rich in phytosterols and phytostanols (mainly β-sitosterol, β-sitostanol, campesterol and stigmasterol), resveratrol and hydroxytyrosol. The extract will be taken in capsule format.
• A control group (n=22) that will take a placebo supplement.

At the beginning of the study, anthropometric measurements of the participants will be taken. The participants' blood pressure will also be measured. An interview-questionnaire will be conducted to learn about and evaluate participants´s diet, physical activity and sleep quality. A blood sample will also be taken from the participants for biochemical analysis (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, oxidized LDL, triglycerides and transaminases). From this day on, all participants will take two capsules daily of the phytosterol-rich extract or the placebo capsule, as appropriate, for 56 days. Capsules will be taken at night after dinner. Sampling and biochemical analysis will be repeated on days 28 and 56.