A more than 50% increase in the life-span of Zucker rats, a commonly used animal model for human obesity, was seen by enrichment of unhealthy food with a novel combination of plant sterols and mineral nutrients.
Extensive studies at the University of Helsinki have shown that the increase in life-span is mainly due to the ability of this new composition to lower serum cholesterol and lower blood pressure, and decrease obesity, which were all increased by the high-fat, high-salt diets without the enrichment. Improved function of blood vessels also appears to play a role. Human studies have already confirmed a part of the findings, and other data suggest that the effects of the new composition may be largely relevant also for man.