Sterols

Sterols

HOW YOU MAY BENEFIT

• Plant sterols help maintain cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range.*
• Beta Sitosterol is the most abundant plant sterols.*
• Promotes cardiovascular health.*
• Supports prostate health.*

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Sterols are essential components of cell membranes in
both plant and animal tissues. Phytosterols are the plant
equivalents to animal cholesterol, differing in structure
by the side chain configuration. Beta Sitosterol,
Campesterol and Stigmasterol are the most abundant
dietary phytosterols. A typical Westerner consumes 80
mg phytosterols per day, in sharp contrast to vegetarian
and Japanese diets that contain 345 and 400 mg/day,
respectively. In addition, natural phytosterols are often
removed from vegetable oils during processing, making
supplementation an opportunity to receive these healthy
molecules.*

Extensive research on phytosterols indicates that as a
plant sterol, Beta Sitosterol helps maintain cholesterol
levels that are already within the normal range. Upon
digestion, the sterol esters are cleaved to deliver free
sterols to the intestine. When plant sterols are consumed,
they compete with other sterols for absorption.
While the exact mechanism is unknown, free sterols
become associated with mixed micelles for intestinal
absorption. *

Plant sterols also have a long history of traditional use in
Europe to support prostate health. While a precise
mechanism of action has yet to be discerned, scientific
evidence shows the ability of Beta Sitosterol to significantly
support prostate health.*

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
• de Graaf, et al. found that enriching chocolate with
phytosterols significantly helped support cholesterol
levels already within the normal range compared to
placebo chocolate. Seventy volunteers participated in
the 4 week long study, and were randomized to receive
1.8 g/day phytosterols or placebo in a chocolate matrix.
Plasma Sitosterol and Campesterol levels were also
significantly promoted compared to placebo, yet
remained within the normal range.*

• Hendricks et al. evaluated the effects of long-term
consumption of a vegetable spread containing plant
sterol esters in a placebo-controlled, double-blind
investigation. Healthy volunteers consumed 20 g
spread enriched with 1.6 g plant sterol esters or a
control spread for one year. In the 185 subjects that
completed the trial, the plant sterol esters were found
to significantly and consistently support cholesterol
levels already within the normal range as compared to
the control spread.*

• In a multi-center, placebo-controlled, double-blind
trial, Berges, et al. investigated the effects of Beta
Sitosterol on prostate health in 200 subjects.
Volunteers were randomized to receive either 20 mg
Beta Sitosterol three times per day or placebo. No
changes were observed in the placebo group.
Significant support or prostate health was observed.