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Rev Chil Nutr Vol. 21, Suplemento N° 1, Noviembre 2004, pásg: 161-169
Artículos de actualización
RESUMEN
Los fitoesteroles y sus formas reducidas, los fitoestanoles, son esteroles de origen
vegetal ampliamente distribuidos en la naturaleza y cuya estructura es muy similar
a la del colesterol. Desde hace años se conoce que estos esteroles producen efectos
hipocolesterolémicos cuando son ingeridos en el rango de 1-3 g/día, por lo cual se
les considera como importantes aliados en la prevención de las enfermedades
cardiovasculares, siendo su consumo indicado para individuos con
hipercolesterolemias leves o moderadas. El efecto hipocolesterolémico de los
fitoesteroles y de los fitoestanoles es atribuido a tres acciones metabólicas: inhiben
la absorción intestinal de colesterol por competencia en la incorporación del
colesterol a las micelas mixtas; disminuyen la esterificación del colesterol en los
enterocitos al inhibir la actividad de la enzima acilCoA-colesterol-acil transferasa, y;
estimulan el eflujo de colesterol desde los enterocitos hacia el lumen intestinal al
aumentar la actividad y la expresión de un transportador de tipo ABC. La acción
conjunta de los esteroles y/o estanoles sobre estos mecanismos produce una
disminución del colesterol total plasmático y del colesterol-LDL, sin modificar los
niveles del colesterol-HDL. Los fitoesteroles y fitoestanoles constituyen un modelo
muy adecuado para el desarrollo de alimentos funcionales. Actualmente en
diferentes países se comercializan leches, jugos, yogurt y margarinas que contienen
ya sea fitoesteroles o fitoestanoles.
ABSTRACT
Phytosterols and their reduced forms, phytostanols, are sterols of plant origin
widely distributed in the vegetable kingdom and structurally related to cholesterol.
The knowledge that vegetable sterols have a hypocholesterolemic effect when
ingested in the range of 1-3 g/day widespread. Currently these sterols are
considered as important allies in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, its
consumption being suggested for individuals having low or moderate
hypercholesterolemia. The hypocholesterolemic action of phytosterols and
phytostanols can be ascribed to three different metabolic actions: inhibition of
cholesterol absorption by competition for the formation of mixed micelles at the
intestinal lumen; reduction of cholesterol esterification by inhibition of the enzyme
acylCoA-cholesterol acyl transferase in the intestinal cells; and by increasing the
efflux of cholesterol from the enterocytes to the intestinal lumen by a modification
in the activity and the expression of a ABC-type transport. The concerted action of
phytosterols and phytostanols over these mechanisms may substantially reduce
total plasma and LDL-cholesterol, with no modification of HDL-cholesterol levels.
Vegetable sterols may constitute a good model for the development of functional
foods. Many countries are now expending food products containing phytosterols and
phytostanols, such as milk, yogurt, and margarine.
INTRODUCCIÓN.
FIGURA 2
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FIGURA 5
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Este trabajo fué recibido el 21 de Junio de 2004 y aceptado para ser publicado el 1
de Octubre de 2004.