Brassicasterol

Curr Gerontol Geriatr Res. 2012;2012:179318.

Sterol lipid metabolism in down syndrome revisited: down syndrome is associated with a selective reduction in serum brassicasterol levels.[Pubmed: 22649448]

Over the past 15 years, insights into sterol metabolism have improved our understanding of the relationship between lipids and common conditions such as atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). A better understanding of sterol lipid metabolism in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) may help elucidate how this population's unique metabolic characteristics influence their risks for atherosclerosis and AD.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
To revisit the question of whether sterol lipid parameters may be altered in DS subjects, we performed a pilot study to assess traditional serum sterol lipids and lipoproteins, as well as markers of sterol biosynthesis, metabolites, and plant sterols in 20 subjects with DS compared to age-matched controls.
CONCLUSIONS:
Here we report that the levels of nearly all lipids and lipoproteins examined are similar to control subjects, suggesting that trisomy 21 does not lead to pronounced general alterations in sterol lipid metabolism. However, the levels of serum Brassicasterol were markedly reduced in DS subjects.

Acta Psychiatr. Scand. ,2011,124(3):184-92. 

The plant sterol brassicasterol as additional CSF biomarker in Alzheimer's disease.[Reference: WebLink]

METHODS AND RESULTS:
Plant sterols (sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and Brassicasterol) are solely dietary-derivable sterols that are structurally very similar to cholesterol. In contrast to peripheral cholesterol, plant sterols can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate within mammalian brain.
CONCLUSIONS:
As an impaired function of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-blood barrier is linked to neurodegenerative disorders, i.e. Alzheimer's disease (AD), we investigated whether this results in altered plant sterol concentrations in CSF.