Beta Sitosterol

Beta Sitosterol 60 caps | Pharmax
Beta sitosterol is the most abundant plant sterol.

Background:
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.

Features & benefits:

• Plant sterols have proven and well documented cholesterol lowering ability
• Plant sterols have the most potent and fast acting effect on cholesterol lowering of any type of nutrient
• Plant sterols can be combined with statin therapy as the effects are additive.