Project Number: 1235-51530-009-22
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Jan 01, 2012
End Date: Dec 31, 2012

Objective:
To identify a genetic basis for heterogeneity in responsiveness of plasma lipids to plant sterol use, and to identify which regulators of cholesterol metabolism associate with the genetic factors identified. The long-term goal is to predetermine who will and will not respond to plant sterols as functional food ingredients.

Approach:
Conduct a randomized clinical trial of individuals that respond to dietary plant sterols with an increase or a decrease in plasma lipids, and identify genotypic traits for lipid regulator systems including NPC1L1, ABCG5, ABCG8, SR-BI, CETP, HMG CoA R, APOE, CEL, and PCSK9 that associate with the degree of plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol responsiveness to plant sterol administration.