The Effect of 3-Week Consumption of Soya Beverage Enriched With Plant Sterols on Serum LDL-C

Inclusion Criteria

• Southern Chinese male or female ≥ 18 years;
• In good general health as evidenced by medical history;
• Have the ability to understand the requirements of the study, provide written informed consent, including consent for the use and disclose of research-related health information, and comply with the study data collection procedures. Provide signed and dated informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria

• Subject with familial hypercholesterolemia;
• On regular medication(s) which affect gastrointestinal functions and blood lipids level for the past 3 months, such as, but not limited to:
• Antibiotics of >1 week duration
• GI related medications such as antacids
• Having blood lipid lowering medications such as statins, selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors (e.g. ezetimibe), fibrates, niacin, resins, omega- 3
• Heavy-smokers (more than 1 pack per day)
• Subject with heavy alcohol intake (>40 g/day for men ; >30 g/day for women) (32), or having history of alcohol abuse within 12 months prior to the study
• Subjects with taste aversion to placebo/intervention soya beverages
• Subject refusing to stop the consumption of plant sterols-enriched products if any during the study (other than the studied product) or having regular consumption of sterols/stanols cholesterol-lowering supplements/functional foods or other related products such as:
• Sterol/ Stanol - containing margarines, milk, yoghurt drink and soya beverages
• Sterol / Stanol supplements
• Fish oils & omega-3 supplements
• Subject receiving systemic treatment or topical treatment likely to interfere with evaluation of the study parameters
• Subject currently involved in a clinical trial or in an exclusion period following participation in another clinical trial
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Having soy allergy
• Being a vegan
• Being an athlete
• Concurrently participating in weight management or dietary program
• On diet pills, such as, but not limited to chitosan and dulcolax
• With history of sitosterolemia
• Having history of hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, thyroid disease, severe kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases, chronic gastrointestinal disorders, cancers and AIDs ( acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
• Having history of malabsorption syndrome arising from diseases such as, but not limited to celiac disease, short bowel syndrome, cystic fibrosis, pancreatitis, diseases of gall-bladder, liver or pancreas, intestinal infection, injury, surgery and radiotherapy
• Taking over-the-counter Chinese medications or supplements with cholesterol/lipid lowering and related claims
• High blood cholesterol at screening [Total cholesterol level ≥6.22mmol/L]
• High LDL cholesterol [LDL cholesterol level ≥4.15mmol/L]
• High blood triglyceride at screening [Triglyceride ≥3.39mmol/L]
• Anything that would place the individual at increased risk or preclude the individual's full compliance with or completion of the study.