['In utero exposure to excessive cholesterol has been shown to increase fetal plasma cholesterol concentration and predispose adult offspring to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Because lipid-lowering drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy, natural cholesterol-lowering compounds may be a safe and effective alternative to reduce CVD risk in offspring born to hypercholesterolemic mothers.', 'This study used the hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mouse model to test the hypothesis that mothers supplemented with phytosterols during gestation and lactation would produce offspring with a more favorable lipid profile than offspring from unsupplemented mothers, despite having a genetic predisposition toward hypercholesterolemia.', 'Sixteen female apoE(-/-) mice were randomly assigned to 2 diets fed throughout the gestation and lactation periods: a cholesterol-enriched diet (CH) (0.15%) or the cholesterol-enriched diet supplemented with phytosterols (CH/PS) (2%). Serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured by enzyme assay and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively, and liver cholesterol was analyzed by GC.', 'Compared with the CH-fed dams at the end of lactation, phytosterol-supplemented dams displayed lower (P < 0.05) serum total cholesterol (-55%), non-HDL cholesterol (-56%), and LDL cholesterol (-47%), but no change (P > 0.05) in HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations. Pups from phytosterol-fed dams demonstrated lower (P < 0.05) total cholesterol (-25%), non-HDL cholesterol (-25%), LDL cholesterol (-47%), and TGs (-41%), without any change (P > 0.05) in HDL cholesterol compared with pups from CH-fed dams. Furthermore, compared with pups from CH-fed dams, pups from phytosterol-supplemented dams displayed a lower (P < 0.05) number of total LDL particles (-34%), VLDL particles (-31%), and HDL particles (-30%).'] Does maternal Phytosterol Supplementation during Pregnancy and Lactation modulate Lipid and Lipoprotein Response in Offspring of apoE-Deficient Mice?