Sterols are essential components of cell membranes and both animals and
plants produce them. Cholesterol is exclusively an animal sterol and the three
major plant sterols are campesterol, stigmasterol and especially beta
sitosterol.
It is now well recognized scientifically that ingestion of plant sterols has a
serum cholesterol lowering effect. They do this by reducing the absorption of
cholesterol from the gut by competing for the limited space for cholesterol in
mixed micelles. This competition for absorption affects both dietary and
endogenous cholesterol.
In fact, plant sterols are similarly artherogenic to cholesterol but do not
manifest an effect because their own absorption is so inefficient (see below).
Plant stanols are similar to plant sterols but are saturated, have greater
cholesterol lowering effects and are only found in low amounts in food.
Sterol type Average Absorption intake per day effciciency
- Cholesterol 300
400mg 40%
- Plant sterols 200
350mg 4 – 5%
- Plant stanols 20
50mg <0.5%
The optimum intake to elicit maximum cholesterol lowering effect is about 2
grams per day.
Undoubtedly, increasing plant sterol intake is the most effective dietary
mechanism for rapidly lowering LDL and total cholesterol levels. In a recent
analysis of 16 published human trials involving 590 subjects, an average 10%
reduction of total cholesterol and 13% reduction in LDL was found, with an
average intake of phytosterols of 2 grams per day (Moghadasiar & Frolich, 2000).
Additionally, phytosterol intake does not interfere with the absorption of
fat-soluble vitamins or carotenoids.
The Pharmax Beta Sitosterol product is a highly physically-bioavailable form of
beta sitosterol, produced by our unique patented emulsification and freeze
drying technology.
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