Phytosterols, Ezetimibe, and Cholesterol Metabolism

Exclusion Criteria

• •Age \< 18 or \> 80 years;
• •Based on duplicate screening laboratory values: 1)LDL-C \>=190 mg/dL; 2)TG \>=250 mg/dL;3)blood pressure \>= 160 mm Hg systolic or 95 mm Hg diastolic;
• •Documented presence of atherosclerotic disease;
• •Diabetes mellitus;
• •Renal, hepatic, endocrine, gastrointestinal, hematological or other systemic disease;
• •Body mass index \> 35;
• •For women, pregnancy, breast feeding or postpartum \< 6 months;
• •For women, peri-menopausal;
• •For women, sexually active but not practicing effective birth control methods;
• •History of drug or alcohol abuse;
• •History of depression or mental illness requiring treatment or medication within the last 6 months;
• •multiple food allergies or significant food preferences or restrictions that would interfere with diet adherence;
• •Chronic use of over-the-counter medication which would interfere with study endpoints including laxatives and antacids;
• •Lifestyle or schedule incompatible with the study protocol;
• •Planned continued use of dietary supplements through the study trial;
• •Taking any lipid-lowering, or other medications known to affect blood cholesterol.