Plant Sterols Defined

Plant sterols, sometimes called phytosterols, are naturally found in some vegetable oils, nuts, grain products, fruits and vegetables. Natural plant sterols occur in many foods, but at low levels, so it would be very challenging to get enough plant sterols for effective cholesterol reduction through whole foods alone. It would take about 100 pounds of fruits, vegetables or nuts to get 2 grams of natural plant sterols. Because of this, plant sterols have been added to common foods like vegetable oil spreads (margarine), mayonnaise, dairy-based drinks, orange juice and snack bars. Foods containing at least 0.4 grams per serving of plant sterols eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 grams, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.

How Do Plant Sterols Work?

Plant sterols help actively remove cholesterol from the body by helping to block cholesterol absorption from the intestine (digestive tract). Cholesterol enters the intestine from two sources, from the diet and cholesterol from the body storage pool. In the intestine, cholesterol is taken up via the cells lining the intestine and transported to the body storage pool in the liver. Plant sterols are physically similar to cholesterol so they can compete with cholesterol to be taken up from the intestine, however once taken up the body does not require plant sterols, so they are returned to the intestine. The net result is that less cholesterol is absorbed. With regular use, plant sterols can result in a removal of cholesterol from the body and, over time, a reduction in blood cholesterol levels.

Key Points about Plant Sterols

• Natural plant sterols are one of the proven methods of dietary cholesterol reduction that are accepted by national experts and organizations such as the National Cholesterol Education Program and the American Dietetic Association.
• More than 140 published clinical studies have proven plant sterols lower LDL cholesterol.
• Foods containing plant sterols should be eaten twice a day with meals.