| What are Phytosterols? Phytosterols, also known as plant sterols, are a naturally occurring class of compounds found in the cells and membranes of plants. These plant lipid-like compounds are present at low levels in grains, fruits and vegetables. There are approximately 250 different sterols and related compounds in plant and marine materials with the most common ones beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol. A large body of scientific research dating back to the 1950s has documented the ability of phytosterols to block the absorption of cholesterol and reduce blood cholesterol levels. Phytosterols have a similar molecular structure to dietary and endogenously secreted cholesterol. The most abundant phytosterols (sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol) differ from cholesterol only in the identity of one side chain or the presence of an extra double bond. ? Because cholesterol and phytosterol molecules are similar, the human body can't tell the difference. Phytosterols compete with cholesterol for absorption in the small intestine. However, phytosterols themselves are not absorbed by the human body. Cholesterol is absorbed in the upper third of the intestine. Phytosterols block the absorption of dietary cholesterol into the bloodstream and inhibit the re-absorption of cholesterol from bile acids in the digestive process, thus reducing the amount of cholesterol entering the bloodstream. The absorption rate of phytosterols is approximately 1/10th that of cholesterol, meaning that the pathways in the intestine are occupied by phytosterols for an extended period of time, which makes the blocking process even more effective. Most people consume 0.2 - 0.3 grams of phytosterols each day as part of a normal healthy diet. A large and growing number of clinical trials have shown that an additional one to two grams of phytosterols in the diet can reduce blood cholesterol levels significantly. An important study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1999 showed the relative decrease in Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol when hypercholesterolemic subjects on a low-fat diet consumed 1.8 grams of Reducol™ per day, Forbes phytosterol-based food ingredient, suspended in margarine compared to a control margarine. The combined effects of the Reducol™ and the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the base margarine resulted in 24% lowering in LDL over the 4 weeks of the study, compared to 9% LDL lowering effect in the control group. For the millions of people all over the world looking to lead a healthy lifestyle, plant sterols offer a natural, safe and effective way to reduce cholesterol levels. |
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