Title:Non-cholesterol Sterols in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dyslipidemias: A Review
Volume: 23
Issue: 20
Author(s): Lucía Baila-Rueda, Ana Cenarro and Fernando Civeira
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Dyslipidemia, Hypercholesterolemia, Lipid-lowering therapies, Non-cholesterol sterols,
Phytosterols, Plant sterols.
Abstract: Non-cholesterol sterols have been used as markers of cholesterol
intestinal absorption and hepatic synthesis, leading to a better understanding
of cholesterol homeostasis in humans. This review discusses the main noncholesterol
sterols that are clinically useful, different methods to quantify
the factors associated with blood concentration, and the potential role of
non-cholesterol sterols in the diagnosis and treatment of different types of
dyslipidemia. The main indication is the use of non-cholesterol sterols for
the diagnosis of rare diseases associated with defects in cholesterol
synthesis or anomalies in the absorption and/or elimination of phytosterols.
However, other potential uses, including the diagnosis of certain
hypercholesterolemias and the individualization of lipid-lowering therapies,
are promising as they could help treat a wider population.
