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The FDA has granted a health claim for plant sterol ester's and stanol ester's ability to assist in the reduction of heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol.. Two servings a day in the form of foods and softgel dietary supplements along with a low saturated fat, low cholesterol diet are required for a total of 1.3 gram of plant sterol esters per day or 3.4 gram of plant stanol esters. A serving must contain a minimum of .65 grams of sterol or 1.3 grams stanol. Foods that carry the claim must contain no more than 13 grams of total fat per serving. Spreads and salad dressings are not required to meet this limit if the label discloses a statement referring consumers to the nutrition facts section on the fat content. Also, except for salad dressings anddietary supplements, the food must contain atleast 10% of the RDI or DRV for Vitamin A, C, iron, calcium, protien or fiber.

So why is the media still making dietary decisions for our patients? The fact is Margarine still wins as the preferred table spread with eleven recent studies involving 70,000 people showing it's effect in lowering blood cholesterol. The AHA and the National Cholesterol Education Program still recommends margarine over butter. Choices include soft tub, liquid, sprays, powders and reformulated sticks.

As Pat Stahl, points out in the article 'Beyond the Headlines' This is an example of the two-pronged approach to our role as professionals in the ongoing issue of trans fatty acid labeling on food products. We need to understand the basic science yet we must be cognizant of the fact that information on product labels needs to be readable for our clients when they are making product selections at the grocery store.

The 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans published in May changed the focusto the need to reduce intake of saturated fat and cholesterol rather than only focuing on the consumption of a low-fat diet. "Choose a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat". The new guidelines recommend that consumers choose diets moderate in total fat (no more than 30% of calories) provided most of the fat in the diet is of the poly- and mono-unsaturated fat variety.

National Association of Margarine Manufactures, Sue Taylor, MS, RD.

The Margarine Matters newsletter includes recent studies that clearly support the conclusion that margarine products are the best choice of table spreads when it comes to biomarkers related to heart disease. An important survey has finally documented that conflicting nutrition information actually does cause people to change their eating habits. According to this 1990 survey of 1,001 U S adults conducted by Yankelovich Partners, many Americans have read and heard conflicting health information about several foods, including margarine, that have resulted in confusion. The survey found about one-third of consumers who heard conflicting information about margarine had stopped eating it and were replacing it with something else. Of those, 42 percent are now eating butter despite the scientic evidence. About one in five also have stopped paying attention to new nutrition information entirely.

Benecol	Take Control
Smart Beat

Today's margarine, once considered a low achiever, features health enhancement. The two new margarines, Lipton's Take Control spread (sterol esters) and McNeil Consumer Products Benecol spread (stanol esters) have medicinal effects. A similar product in development, called Phytrol, may soon join them. All three help lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol so the products are expected to aid heart health. How? Each contains a cholesterol-like plant fat. It blocks the absorption of choloesterol in the small intestine. As a result, cholesterol levels in the blood drop. But the margarines need to be eaten in a certain dose, like medicine, every day. Two tablespoons of Take Control lowers LDL by about 8%. Three servings of Benecol daily lowers cholesterol as much as 14%.

These margarines are not as versatile for cooking. Lipton recommends that you do not cook or bake with Take Control and it can not be frozen. Benecol regular spread (tub, 9 gram fat per 14 gram serving) can be used in all forms of cooking but not the light (3-5 gram fat per 8 gram serving) spread. Blake Wilson pointed out the Vitamin A and E content in the Benecol products as an added benefit. It's oil is canola.

The AHA recommends soft margarine with no more than 2 gram saturated fat per serving. The first ingredient should be liquid vegetable oil. Those who do not have hyperlipidemia should not fork out the extra money. Smartbeat and Promise Ultra are trans fatty acid free and taste very good. If used as a significant part of the total diet, the precise type of oils in Smart Beat can improve the ratio of HDL and LDL cholesterol by lowering the LDL and maintaining the HDL. The level of palmitic acid needed to maintain HDL is sufficient to provide the solids for texture with normal margarine processing, chill and work, with modifications as needed for the special characteristics of natural oil blends with out gums or starch. The 67% margarine/spread is designed for cooking. For baking adjustments are needed for the water content. The 37% margarine/spread is for table top use only. Palmitic acid in this spread is the right kind of saturate to blend with the "polys" and "monos" to work together in perfect balance and to conform to the AHA Step 1 Diet.

The Diabetes Forecast Special Feature magazine (p 30) has a great table comparing these spreads nutrient profile and uses.

REFERENCES

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www.takecontrol.com
www.healthyfridge.org
www.americanheart.org
www.usda.gov
www.margarine.org/health

Stahl P. What's New At The FDA Informing Consumers about Trans Fat Labelling. J Am Diet Assoc.2000;100:1132

This site was developed by Connie McLellan, RD. LD. Oregon State University, Graduate Student Dietetic Management Distance Program

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Updated: Sunday, March 30, 2008.