Use of margarine enriched in phytosterols by patients at high cardiovascular risk and treated by hypolipidemic drugs

Abstract 

Background and aims

The use of phytosterol-enriched margarines (PEM) in patients at cardiovascular risk has not been thoroughly explored. We determined the proportion of users of PEM in a population at high cardiovascular risk, and their characteristics. In addition, the correlates of using at least 25g/d of PEM were identified.

Methods and results

Patients with at least two cardiovascular risk factors in addition to dyslipidemia (primary prevention) or with past cardiovascular disease (secondary prevention) were recruited by general practitioners (GPs). Baseline characteristics were collected from a computerized GP database linked to a survey. GPs recorded patterns of PEM use. First, users were compared with non-users. Then, analyses were conducted to identify characteristics of patients using PEM at a recommended dose (≥25g/d). Among 1631 patients with documented consumption, a minority used PEM (15.2%), and only 36.4% of consumers used it at recommended level. Overall, PEM users did not differ from non-users as to general characteristics, nor as to the level of cardiovascular risk in primary prevention. However, PEM users reported significantly more cardiovascular events among their parents (OR=1.4; 95% CI=[1.0–1.9]). Consumers who used at least 25g/d of PEM were more likely to be men (OR=3.1; 95% CI=[1.6–5.8]), to be aged 60–74 (OR=3.0; 95% CI=[1.4–6.4]), or 75 or older (OR=4.0; 95% CI=[1.5–10.6]). Again, no difference was observed regarding the level of cardiovascular risk.

Conclusions

The level of use of PEM was low in this population of high cardiovascular risk patients. In addition, only a third of users consumed margarine at the recommended level. Our data suggest that pattern of use of PEM is not related to the level of cardiovascular risk.

Keywords: Phytosterol-enriched margarines, Prevention, Dyslipidemia