Dr. Cater, who became a Clinical Nutrition Research Scholar has turned his attention to the exciting new area of plant stanols. The latter are derivatives of sitosterol and have been shown to reduce serum LDL-cholesterol levels by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol. Dr. Cater has obtained grants to study the effects of plant stanols in several different types of patients. He also had played a major role in professional education of the potential utility of plant stanols as dietary adjuncts for LDL reduction. He further participated in an important study showing how plant stanols can augment the cholesterol-lowering of dietary therapy in patients receiving statin therapy.  Dr. Cater has emerged as an authority on the role of plant stanols for the treatment of elevated LDL cholesterol.

In addition, Dr. Cater participates in all of the clinical research projects being carried out in the VA Medical Center. These projects include a variety of studies on pharmacological agents affecting serum lipid disorders. Dr. Cater further is a national spokesman for the Center for Human Nutrition in several areas of nutrition, particularly in the areas of functional foods and nutraceuticals. Dr. Cater's research focuses on the dietary and pharmacological management of dyslipidemia. He conducts metabolic ward feeding studies and outpatient diet and drug studies. He also participates in multicenter diet and drug trials. Dr. Cater is particularly interested in the role of dietary adjuncts, such as functional foods and nutraceuticals, in the management of moderate hypercholesterolemia and in their potential utility in augmenting the cholesterol-lowering effect of diet in patients already on statin therapy. The models for this are foods fortified with plant stanol ester. Dr. Cater is active on both the national and international levels in further investigating the role of plant stanol ester in both the clinical and public health approaches to controlling cholesterol levels.

Page Last Updated: June 26, 2006