Plant Sterols

Plant Sterols

Phytosterols, also known as plant sterols and stanols, are cholesterol-like molecules found in plants such as whole grains, fruits, legumes, and vegetables. While the cholesterol found in animals can increase blood cholesterol and may lead the development of heart disease, phytosterols are minimally absorbed from the small intestine and don’t enter the bloodstream. In addition, phytosterols stop or slow the absorption of cholesterol and cholesterol made by the liver.  So it’s no surprise that phytosterol-enriched foods and dietary supplements have been marketed as heart and cholesterol healthy for years.

Benefits of Plant Sterols

The following are among the proven benefits of plant sterols on the human body:

Cholesterol Control

Numerous high quality studies have confirmed the cholesterol-reducing properties of plant sterols. According to these studies, plant sterols supplementation can significantly reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterol (bad cholesterol) by 10-20% without any adverse side effects.[1-6]

Strong Immune System

One study found that plant sterols target immune system cells such as T-helper lymphocytes, thus, helping normalize their functioning and resulting in improved T-lymphocyte and natural killer cell activity.[7] This in turn results in heightened immune response, thereby preventing a wide array of disease processes relating to chronic immune-mediated abnormalities.

Lower Cardiovascular Disease Risk

A 2001 study suggests that daily consumption of plant sterols at 2-3 g can bring down cholesterol levels by 10-15%.[8] This finding is highly significant since lower cholesterol level is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.[9] In addition, aside from reducing cholesterol levels, plant sterols also prevent plaque formation within the blood vessels of the heart (atherosclerosis) by increasing the activity of antithrombin-III, a natural anticoagulant.[10]

Cancer Prevention

Plant sterols have also been found to have potent anti-cancer properties. In one study, plant sterol consumption at a dose of 144 mg/d was associated with reduction in risk for lung cancer.[11] Other studies have also shown that higher dietary intake of plant sterol was found to be associated with lower risk of stomach, esophageal, colon and rectal cancers.[12-14]

Anti-Aging

Increased level of free radicals in the body is thought to accelerate the aging process. Interestingly, one study assessing the effect of plant sterols on healthy human subjects found that higher dietary intake of plant sterols was associated with reduced levels of free radicals in the body, suggesting that the treatment may help slow the process of aging.[15]

Relief from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Beta-sitosterol, one of many plant sterols, is widely used in the treatment of BPH, a condition characterized by enlargement of the prostate gland resulting in urinary problems. Results from two high quality studies show that beta-sitosterol supplementation in men with BPH significantly improved the symptoms and urinary flow parameters, indicating the effectiveness of beta-sitosterol in the treatment of this prostate condition.[16-17]

Improved Wound Healing

One study found that the use of moist exposed burn ointment containing plant sterol is effective in treating patients with partial thickness burns of the face.[18] Similarly, a 2009 study published in the Journal of the Euro-Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters reported that the plant sterol beta-sitosterol accelerates the wound healing process by promoting epithelialization, a process in which granulation tissues form.[19]

Improved Exercise Recovery

One study found that plant sterol supplementation can help prevent exercise-induced muscle pain and inflammation, thereby improving exercise recovery.[20] According to the study, marathon runners who took beta-sitosterol capsules prior to exercise had less of inflammatory response compared to those who took placebo.

References:

1. Ras RT, Geleijnse JM, Trautwein EA. LDL-cholesterol-lowering effect of plant sterols and stanols across different dose ranges: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled studies. The British journal of nutrition. 2014; 112(2):214-9.
2. AbuMweis SS, Jones PJ. Cholesterol-lowering effect of plant sterols. Current atherosclerosis reports. 2008; 10(6):467-72.
3. Amir Shaghaghi M, Abumweis SS, Jones PJ. Cholesterol-lowering efficacy of plant sterols/stanols provided in capsule and tablet formats: results of a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2013; 113(11):1494-503.
4. Tikkanen MJ. Plant sterols and stanols. Handbook of experimental pharmacology. 2005.
5. Kamal-Eldin A, Moazzami A. Plant sterols and stanols as cholesterol-lowering ingredients in functional foods. Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture. 2009; 1(1):1-14.
6. Talati R, Sobieraj DM, Makanji SS, Phung OJ, Coleman CI. The comparative efficacy of plant sterols and stanols on serum lipids: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2010; 110(5):719-26.
7. Bouic PJ, Lamprecht JH. Plant sterols and sterolins: a review of their immune-modulating properties. Alternative medicine review: a journal of clinical therapeutic. 1999; 4(3):170-7.
8. Plat J, Mensink RP. Effects of plant sterols and stanols on lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk. Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases: NMCD. 2001; 11(1):31-40.
9. Bae J-M, Yang Y-J, Li Z-M, Ahn Y-O. Low Cholesterol is Associated with Mortality from Cardiovascular Diseases: A Dynamic Cohort Study in Korean Adults. Journal of Korean Medical Science. 2012;27(1):58-63. doi:10.3346/jkms.2012.27.1.58.
10. Plat J, Mensink RP. Vegetable oil based versus wood based stanol ester mixtures : effects on serum lipids and hemostatic factors in non-hypercholesterolemic subjects. Atherosclerosis. 2000;148:101–112. doi: 10.1016/S0021-9150(99)00261-0.
11. Mendilaharsu M, De Stefani E, Deneo-Pellegrini H, Carzoglio J, Ronco A. Phytosterols and risk of lung cancer: a case-control study in Uruguay. Lung Cancer. 1998;21:37–45. doi: 10.1016/S0169-5002(98)00044-0.
12. De Stefani E, Boffetta P, Ronco AL, Brennan P, Deneo-Pellegrini H, Carzoglio JC, Mendilaharsu M. Plant sterols and risk of stomach cancer: a case-control study in Uruguay. Nutr Cancer. 2000;37:140–144. doi: 10.1207/S15327914NC372_4.
13. De Stefani E, Brennan P, Boffetta P, Ronco AL, Mendilaharsu M, Deneo-Pellegrini H. Vegetables, fruits, related dietary antioxidants, and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a case-control study in Uruguay. Nutr Cancer. 2000;38:23–29. doi: 10.1207/S15327914NC381_4.
14. Normén AL, Brants HA, Voorrips LE, Andersson HA, van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA. Plant sterol intakes and colorectal cancer risk in the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;74:141–148.
15. Homma Y, Ikeda I, Ishikawa T, Tateno M, Sugano M, Nakamura H. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial: Decrease in plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein by plant stanol ester-containing spread. Nutrition. 2003;19::369–374. doi: 10.1016/S0899-9007(02)00926-7.
16. Wilt T, Ishani A, Macdonald R, Stark G, Mulrow C, Lau J. Beta-sitosterols for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(2):CD001043.
17. Berges RR, Windeler J, Trampisch HJ, Senge T. Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Beta-sitosterol Study Group. Lancet. 1995;345(8964):1529-32.
18. Ang ES, Lee ST, Gan CS, et al. The role of alternative therapy in the management of partial thickness burns of the face–experience with the use of moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) compared with silver sulphadiazine. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2000;29(1):7-10.
19. Jewo PI, Fadeyibi IO, Babalola OS, et al. A Comparative Study of the Wound Healing Properties of Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO) and Silver Sulphadiazine. Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters. 2009;22(2):79-82.
20. Bouic PJ, Clark A, Lamprecht J, et al. The effects of B-sitosterol (BSS) and B-sitosterol glucoside (BSSG) mixture on selected immune parameters of marathon runners: inhibition of post marathon immune suppression and inflammation. Int J Sports Med. 1999;20(4):258-62.