Effect of a Plant Sterol-Fortified Low-fat Milk Product on Plasma Lipid Levels of Humans in Relation to Different Infant Feeding Practices and Later Life Cholesterol Metabolism

Hypothesis 1: To determine the responsiveness of plasma lipid profile including Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations to high and low cholesterol diets in adults who been breast-fed as infants for different durations Hypothesis 2: To determine if differences exist in rates of cholesterol absorption and synthesis in adults, and whether such differences respond to variations in cholesterol intake, between individuals who were breast for different durations. Hypothesis 3: Consumption of a plant sterol formulation in low-fat milk product will favorably alter lipid profiles compared with control in the study population. This is a free-living, randomized, crossover trial. This trial is modeled after previously successful functional food trial at the investigators clinic, consistent with current recommendations to decrease Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk and improve circulating lipid profiles. The proposed study will include three treatment phases of 4 weeks each, separated by 4-week washout intervals: Phase 1: Study diets with placebo (240 ml of 2% milk shake; 50 mg cholesterol). Phase 2: Study diets with enriched cholesterol (240ml of 2% milk shake; 600 mg cholesterol). Phase 3: A study diet with plant sterols (240 ml of 2% milk shake;2.0 g/d of plant sterols/240 ml serving; 50 mg cholesterol). During each treatment period participants will consume their supper time meal along with assigned test product. Consumption of the suppertime meals and the test products will be monitored by a clinical coordinator to ensure compliance. Participants will be asked to fill out a 3-day food diary at the beginning and end of each experimental period.