Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Br J Nutr. 2024 Oct 28;132(8):996-1001. doi: 10.1017/S0007114524001363. Epub 2024 Nov 7.
A well-functioning immune system requires balanced immune responses. studies have shown that plant stanols contribute to restoring the T-helper (Th)1/Th2 ratio when it is imbalanced. However, effects of plant stanols on healthy immune responses are unknown. Therefore, we studied effects of recommended (2·5 g/d) or high (9·0 g/d) plant stanol intakes on the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in immunologically healthy subjects. In two RCTs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, cultured, and stimulated with 5 µg/ml Phytohemagglutinin-M to study cytokine production. In the first study, twenty participants consumed margarines (2·5 g/d plant stanols) or control for three weeks. In the second study, nineteen participants consumed margarines and yogurts (9·0 g/d plant stanols) or control for four weeks. T-cell cytokine concentrations were measured in culture medium and in study 2 a standardized Th1/Th2 index was calculated. Serum lipids and non-cholesterol sterols were also measured. Compliance was confirmed by significant increases in serum total cholesterol (TC)-standardized sitostanol and campestanol levels in both studies. Changes in cytokine production and Th1/Th2 index did not differ between intervention and control groups. In the first study, no statistically significant changes were observed in lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. In the second study, LDL cholesterol significantly decreased compared to control (-0·77 (-1·11, -0·42) mmol/l; < 0·001). Recommended (2·5 g/d) or high (9·0 g/d) intakes of plant stanols did not alter PBMC cytokine production in immunologically healthy subjects. This suggests that plant stanols might only affect immune function when Th1/Th2 immune responses are imbalanced.
一个运作良好的免疫系统需要平衡的免疫反应。研究表明，植物固醇有助于恢复 Th1/Th2 比值失衡。然而，植物固醇对健康免疫反应的影响尚不清楚。因此，我们研究了推荐（2.5 克/天）或高（9.0 克/天）植物固醇摄入量对免疫健康受试者 Th1/Th2 细胞因子平衡的影响。在两项 RCT 中，分离外周血单核细胞（PBMC），培养并刺激 5µg/ml 植物血凝素-M 以研究细胞因子的产生。在第一项研究中，二十名参与者连续三周食用涂抹酱（含 2.5 克/天植物固醇）或对照品。在第二项研究中，十九名参与者连续四周食用涂抹酱和酸奶（含 9.0 克/天植物固醇）或对照品。在培养物中测量 T 细胞细胞因子浓度，在第二项研究中计算标准化 Th1/Th2 指数。还测量了血清脂质和非胆固醇甾醇。两项研究中，血清总胆固醇（TC）标准化甾烷醇和菜油甾醇水平显著升高，证明了依从性。与对照组相比，在第一项研究中，脂类和脂蛋白浓度没有统计学上的显著变化。在第二项研究中，与对照组相比，LDL 胆固醇显著降低（-0.77（-1.11，-0.42）mmol/L；<0.001）。在免疫健康受试者中，推荐（2.5 克/天）或高（9.0 克/天）植物固醇摄入量不会改变 PBMC 细胞因子的产生。这表明，只有在 Th1/Th2 免疫反应失衡时，植物固醇才会影响免疫功能。
