Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify seven specific dietary phytosterols (PS) (campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, brassicasterol, 5-avenasterol, beta-sitostanol and campestanol) in fatty foods. Gas-liquid chromatography procedure was applied to 87 items of Swedish and Dutch origin. In general, beta-sitosterol was the dominating phytosterol (60% represented the median total concentration), followed by campesterol (24%), stigmasterol (7%) and 5-avenasterol (5%), brassicasterol (3%), beta-sitostanol (1%) and campestanol (< 0.1%). The median total content of PS for the 42 fat spreads and margarines was 204mg/100g with minimum 73mg/100g in a low-fat margarine and maximum 775mg/100g in a polyunsaturated fat spread. Among 19 plant oils, median total PS content was 348mg/100g, with minimum 39mg/100g in palm oil and maximum 978/100g in corn oil. Median value for 12 nuts and seeds was 144mg/100g, with minimum 68mg/100g in coconut rasps and maximum 404mg/100g in sesame seeds. Median value for total PS was 100mg/100g among 14 miscellaneous fatty foods with minimum 11mg/100g in Dutch non-dairy ice cream and maximum 484mg/100g in mayonnaise. The results are discussed against a background of methodological aspects with the chosen analytical procedure and the importance of setting up valid PS databases for epidemiological studies. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc

Keywords

database; phytosterols; phytostanols; plant sterols; plant stanols; gas liquid chromatography; GLC

Published in

Journal of Food Composition and Analysis
2007, volume: 20, number: 3-4, pages: 193-201
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Authors' information