Plant Stanols and Type 1 Diabetes
Plant Stanols and Type 1 Diabetes
In type 1 diabetes (T1D) coronary artery disease (CAD) is an important cause of morbidity and
 mortality. Although serum cholesterol concentrations are not always elevated in T1D,
 cholesterol metabolism is different from non-diabetics, so that cholesterol absorption is
 enhanced. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of plant stanol esters on serum
 lipid and lipoprotein lipid concentrations, plant sterol and cholestanol concentrations as
 well as cholesterol metabolism in T1 diabetics on statin use. The study will give new
 information about how addition of plant stanol esters on statin use improve hypolipidemic
 effects in type 1 diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes (T1D) coronary artery disease (CAD) is an important cause of morbidity and
 mortality. Although serum cholesterol concentrations are not always elevated in T1D,
 cholesterol metabolism is different from non-diabetics, so that cholesterol absorption is
 enhanced. Thus, theoretically, the best way to reduce serum cholesterol concentrations is to
 reduce cholesterol absorption. However, statins are recommended to T1 diabetics at the same
 LDL cholesterol levels as for type 2 diabetics to reduce risk to CAD.

 The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of plant stanol esters on serum lipid and
 lipoprotein lipid concentrations, plant sterol and cholestanol concentrations as well as
 cholesterol metabolism in T1 diabetics on statin use.

 Altogether, twenty-four T1 diabetics (HbA1c <9%) on stabile statin use will be recruited to
 the study from an announcement in the local newspaper and from Kuopio University Hospital and
 Harjula Hospital. The study is carried out with a randomized, double-blind and parallel
 design. The intervention group (n=12) consumes spread enriched with plant stanol esters (3
 g/d stanols) and the control group (n=12) the same spread containing no added stanols for 4
 weeks. The fasting blood samples are taken at weeks 0, 3 and 4. From blood samples
 concentrations of serum lipids, squalene and non-cholesterol sterols will be analyzed.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  type 1 diabetes, stabile statin drug use, HbA1c <9%

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  liver, kidney and thyroid dysfunction, severe diabetic proteinuria, gastroparesis,
 unstable CAD, unstable inflammatory gastrointestinal disease