Efficacy of plant stanols as esters on LDL-cholesterol reduction is well documented. LDL-cholesterol lowering efficacy of the ingredient in a biscuit (providing 2 g plant stanols as esters per day) is less well known.

Inclusion Criteria:

• mildly or elevated fasting serum cholesterol levels (between 5.2 to 6.5 mmol/l)
• fasting serum triglyceride levels below 3.0 mmol/l
• normal liver, kidney and thyroid function
• no lipid lowering medication
• no history of unstable coronary artery disease (myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass craft (CABG), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) within the previous 6 months, diabetes, temporal ischemic attack and malignant diseases

Exclusion Criteria:

• alcohol abuse (> 4 portion/per day)
• pregnancy
• use of plant stanol and plant sterol products and equivalent cholesterol lowering products, though the ones who have discontinued the consumption of these products minimum 3 weeks before the beginning of the study, can be included