ATLANTA -- The people in white lab coats have pulled another fast one on nature, by creating margarine-like spreads that actually lower cholesterol levels.
Two brands of cholesterol-reducing spreads have been approved by federal officials within the past month. On May 17 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Benecol, manufactured by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of Johnson & Johnson. Three weeks ago, the FDA signed off on Take Control, made by Lipton. Both are due to appear soon on store shelves.Both brands are made with plant derivatives that reduce cholesterol levels in humans by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive tract.
Benecol spreads are made with plant stanol ester, which comes from wood pulp extract. Take Control uses sterol esters, made from soybean oil extract. While Benecol can be used in baking and frying, Take Control isn't recommended for cooking.
The FDA says it supports the manufacturers' claims that these products are completely safe, with no adverse side effects reported.
"They do have a basis for marketing the product as a safe product," said Dr. Alan Rulis, director of the FDA's office of pre-market approval.
Several studies have shown that Benecol reduces total cholesterol by up to 10 percent in people who daily eat three servings of the spread. In addition, in studies the product reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol -- considered the "bad" cholesterol -- by an average of 14 percent.
Similarly, Take Control lowers cholesterol levels by an average of 7 percent to 10 percent when consumed daily.
Adults should have cholesterol readings of no more than 200 milligrams per decaliter of blood, but more than half of all American adults exceed this recommended limit, according to the American Heart Association's 1999 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update.
Regular and light versions of Benecol spread are due to appear in stores soon with other, undisclosed Benecol food products to follow, said McNeil spokesman Ron Schmid.
"We're looking at a whole line of products," Schmid said. "We want to make it easy for all those 100 million cholesterol-concerned Americans to be using Benecol."
The spreads have been popular in Finland, where they have been on the market since 1995, and were introduced in Britain in March.
A 1 1/2-teaspoon serving of regular Benecol spread has 45 calories and 5 fat grams, of which 0.5 grams are saturated fat. The same serving of light Benecol contains 30 calories and 3 fat grams, with no saturated fat. The spreads are cholesterol-free.
A tablespoon of Take Control, due to arrive in supermarkets in June, has 50 calories and 6 fat grams, of which 0.5 grams are saturated fat.
Unlike other margarine-type products that come in tubs, both Benecol and Take Control are packaged in individual pats. Take Control also will be available in 10-ounce tubs.
"We thought this would be the easiest way in the beginning for consumers to be getting the appropriate amount of the product," Schmid said.
How do the products taste? They're similar to the other margarine-type spreads -- in everything but price. Benecol has a suggested retail of $4.99 for a 21-pat package -- a week's supply for one person, according to the recommendation of three daily servings. Take Control's suggested price is $3.79 for both a 10-ounce tub and a 16-portion package.