Cholesterol-Lowering Properties of Ground Beef Enriched with Plant Sterols

This study examined the cholesterol-lowering properties of dietary plants sterols (PS) when consumed in a beef-based diet. Male Syrian hamsters were fed freeze-dried ground beef supplemented with beef tallow (BT) or olive oil (OO), maltodextrin, vitamins and minerals, with or without soybean sterol esters (3-5% sterol by weight of diet). After 4 weeks, plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower and fecal total sterol excretion was significantly higher in hamsters fed PS compared to ground beef diets without PS. Plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations were also significantly lower in hamsters fed OO (without PS) compared to hamsters fed BT (without PS). While both the OO- and PS-containing ground beef diets had cholesterol-lowering abilities, there did not appear to be an additive or synergistic effect when fed together. The present study demonstrates that the consumption of ground beef containing PS can significantly lower plasma and liver cholesterol concentration, supporting the use of ground beef as a functional food to lower cholesterol while providing superior nutritional benefits over the high fat PS-containing margarines, salad dressings and cooking oils currently available.