Citation
(2001), "Flora pro. activ spread", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 31 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2001.01731aab.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
Flora pro. activ spread
Flora pro. activ spread
Van den Bergh Foods have launched this new spread to help people with raised blood cholesterol levels. The spread includes the cholesterol lowering properties of natural plant sterols. It is a 35 per cent vegetable fat spread enriched with 13.8 per cent plant sterols. Independent clinical trials have shown that a healthy diet including around 20g of Flora pro. activ daily, the equivalent of a thin spread on four slices of bread, can give a reduction in LDL cholesterol of 10 per cent to 15 per cent within three weeks. No effect is seen on HDL cholesterol or plasma triacylglycerols. Plant sterols occur naturally in foods and are found in low levels in fruit, vegetables, vegetable oils, nuts and grains. They are similar in structure to cholesterol and they work by reducing the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine. Flora pro. activ is the first and only cholesterol lowering spread to be approved by EU Member States. Professor Tom Sanders has said that using this new spread could cut the risk of coronary heart disease by 30 per cent. Flora pro. activ costs £1.95 for a 250g tub.