Food compositions with superior blood cholesterol lowering properties

Abstract

The invention relates to foods that contain both sucrose polyesters and vegetable proteins. The foods are effective in reducing blood plasma cholesterol levels. In particular, the invention is a fat-containing and protein-containing food composition comprising fat ingredients, protein ingredients, and non-fat and non-protein ingredients; wherein at least 1 gram per serving of the total fat consists essentially of a sucrose fatty acid ester having at least 4 fatty acid ester groups, each fatty acid having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms; and wherein at least 1.5 grams per serving (by protein content ) of the total protein comprises vegetable protein. The invention is also a method for lowering plasma cholesterol levels comprising administering to a human susceptible to or afflicted with hypercholesterolemia the present food compositions, wherein the compositions are administered to provide at least about 0.5% sucrose fatty acid ester in the daily diet (dry weight basis) and a daily dietary ratio of vegetable protein to animal protein of at least about 50:50. Importantly, the level of high density lipoproteins in the plasma is maintained while the level of total cholesterol is lowered. The method is also effective in lowering plasma triglyceride levels.