Benecol - Healthcare Professionals
Hearts & Minds Symposium - Berlin 2006
"The Lower the Better, the Earlier the Better"The second Hearts & Minds symposium - Raisio Ingredients Division's scientific event for healthcare professionals - was held in Berlin on 27-28 October 2006. The event brought together healthcare professionals from 10 countries: Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, France, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, and Thailand. |  |
The program focused on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention through nutritional means and on the differentiation between stanols and sterols. The theme of the event was "The Lower the Better, the Earlier the Better", referring to the concept that the lower the level of cholesterol in the blood, the less likely the development of atherosclerosis, and the earlier you start treating it, the more likely you are to have healthy future.
The symposium was chaired by Dr. Herbert Schuster from the Humboldt University of Berlin; he also gave the opening and closing lecture. The other speakers were Dr. Helena Gylling ("Plant stanol esters in human studies"), Dr. Jogchum Plat ("Plant stanol and sterol esters - mechanism and safety issues"), Dr. Klaus von Bergmann ("Absorption, distribution and elimination of plant sterols in humans"), and Dr. Albert Wiegman ("Children with familial hypercholesterolemia - cardiovascular risk prevention").
The lower the better. In his opening lecture, Dr. Schuster pointed out the importance of cholesterol-lowering by any means in order to reduce the risk of CVD. Numerous studies have established a direct relationship between cholesterol and the incidence of CVD, and meta-analyses suggest that for every 1% decrease in cholesterol there is at least a 1% decrease in CVD. While cholesterol-lowering drugs are indicated in individuals with cholesterol measurements above a certain target level, lifestyle changes are recommended at any level of risk.
The earlier the better. Dr. Wiegman presented the results of a study on children with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in the Netherlands. Children with FH are at a significantly greater risk of developing premature cardiovascular disease. The study demonstrates that plant stanols effectively reduce LDL-C levels in children with FH. In the Netherlands, all children with FH from the age of 5 are today advised to use plant stanols daily, on top of a low-fat diet and physical exercise. Starting at the age of 14, statins can be started.
Plant stanol esters in human studies
Plant stanol and sterol esters – mechanism and safety issues
Lowering cholesterol with plant stanol ester – opening remarks
Lowering cholesterol with plant stanol ester – closing remarks
Absorption, distribution and elimination of plant sterols in humans
Children with familial hypercholesterolemia – cardiovascular risk prevention
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