The National Heart Foundation of Australia has released a new position statement on dietary fats for cardiovascular health , recommending those at risk of cardiovascular disease consume foods with added plant sterols.

This is welcome news for the 1 in 2 Australian adults the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) say have high cholesterol , and provides a clear call to action for those wanting to improve their cholesterol through dietary means. In practical terms this means one option is to consume as little as a rounded tablespoon of Flora pro-activ a day to provide the 2g of plant sterols recommended by the Heart Foundation. The Position Statement was developed after an extensive review of the scientific literature.

The makers of Flora pro-activ, Australia�s leading plant sterol-enriched spread, welcomed the latest advice from the Heart Foundation, which adds to their own research supporting the product�s effectiveness.

Accredited Practising Dietitian for Flora pro-activ, Megan Cobcroft says, �The cholesterol absorption lowering effect of Flora pro-activ has been proven in over 40 clinical studies, and it is welcome news that the Heart Foundation is offering highly credible support for the benefits of the plant sterols such as those found in Flora pro-activ.�

Barbara Eden, Food Supply Policy Manager � Heart Foundation, says �Studies indicate that incorporating plant sterols into a healthy balanced diet is an effective method of lowering total and LDL cholesterol levels. We reviewed the literature using a rigorous process and found the highest level evidence that 2g of plant sterols in margarines reduces LDL cholesterol by approximately 10%�

The Heart Foundation says health professionals should advise those with high absolute risk of cardiovascular disease, elevated LDL cholesterol, familial hypercholesterolaemia (a genetic condition of extremely high blood cholesterol) or type 2 diabetes to consume 2�3 g of plant sterols per day from margarine, or other plant sterol enriched foods such as reduced fat milk (approximately 2�3 serves per day). They also say plant sterol enriched foods could be included in the diets of people already taking cholesterol�lowering drugs, due to their additive effects.

Support for the effectiveness of plant sterols in Flora pro-activ has come at a good time considering the many cholesterol claims currently being made on food products. While foods such as oats, fish and olive oil are recommended in a heart-healthy diet, their effect on cholesterol is much less than Flora pro-activ which is scientifically proven to lower cholesterol absorption by an average of 10% in 3 weeks , plus an additional 5% when moving to a healthy diet .

Ms Cobcroft added, �When comparing foods that lower cholesterol absorption, the effectiveness of the food as well as amount you need to eat must be factored in. Plant sterols are proven to be the most effective, and the most efficient at delivering these in a realistic daily amount of food. For example, three bowls of oats a day only give half the results of one rounded tablespoon (25g) of Flora pro-activ , and 625ml (about 3 glasses) plant sterol milk are needed to obtain the same amount of plant sterols in a rounded tablespoon of Flora pro-activ. When you look at it this way, it�s easy to see the advantage of using Flora pro-activ.�

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Emma Norgrove emma@reedweir.com +61 (0)2 9436 2088