One type of phytonutrient is phyosterol, which exists in a lot of vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, cereals and legumes, and occurs throughout the plant kingdom. B-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol are the most typical phytosterols, and are known to be relatives of cholesterol that improve ones health. The differences between the chemical structure of cholesterol and that of phytosterols are very minute, but they are what determine the different impacts these phytosterols make.

Similar in form and function to cholesterol in animals and humans, phytosterols function to regulate the fluidity of cell membranes in plants. Phytosterols have received a great deal of attention from researchers seeking safer means of helping people maintain healthy blood cholesterol concentrations, healthy cardiovascular systems and healthy hearts. It appears that phytosterols interfere with the intestinal recycling of the cholesterol produced by the liver, effectively reducing the availability of cholesterol to the body and may also inhibit a percentage of dietary cholesterol absorption. This is likely due to the structural similarity of these compounds with cholesterol. The most effective way of dosing plant sterols seems to be with or near a meal. While some research shows that plant sterols can be effective regardless of when they are taken, other research suggests that taking phytosterols in divided doses increases their beneficial effect.

Virtually all of the research and all of the rigorous mathematical analyses of the research that have been conducted consistently show powerful associations between phytosterol consumption (in foods or in dietary supplements) and support of healthy blood cholesterol concentrations, healthy cardiovascular systems and healthy hearts.

U.S. FDA: “Phytosterols Lower LDL-Cholesterol”

After conducting an intensive and extensive detailed review of “the totality of publicly available scientific evidence,” the US Food and Drug Administration has concluded that 1) “there is significant scientific agreement to support a relationship between consumption of plant sterol esters (especially ß-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol) and reduction in the risk of developing heart disease”; 2) “plant sterol esters reduce blood total and/or LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) levels to a significant degree”; 3) blood HDL(the “good” cholesterol) levels are not decreased by the consumption of plant sterol esters; and 4) these benefits can be obtained by individuals with either elevated blood cholesterol levels or normal healthy blood cholesterol levels.2 In addition, the blood cholesterol-lowering response occurs regardless of the composition of the rest of the diet.

New Scientific Research: “Phytosterols Lower LDL-Cholesterol”

New research findings have mentioned the conclusions reached by the US Food and Drug Administration, and have been published since the government’s decisions. One such example is a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, showing that the cardiovascular health of men and women with blood LDL cholesterol concentrations within the “normal” range (blood LDL cholesterol concentration less than 100 mg/dL) received additional support after phytosterols were added to their daily diets, regardless of the nature of their diets. In a study of men and women with initially elevated blood cholesterol concentrations, similar results and benefits were experienced. Studies persistently have shown that phytosterols that are taken in amounts of 2 to 3 grams per day are able to lower LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels by approximately 10 percent. Furthermore, besides their beneficial effects on blood lipid levels, phytoserols can also normalize the inflammatory response of the immune system.

Earlier this year (2009), a comprehensive meta-analysis study was published; this study analyzed the results of 84 clinical trials that used phytosterols. After rigorous analysis, it was concluded that phytosterols have the ability to lower LDL cholesterol levels. This drop in cholesterol levels was found to be dependent on dosage size. Additionally, the authors of this meta-analysis concluded that about 2 grams of phytosterols taken on a daily basis reduced LDL cholesterol levels by about ten percent.

There are many nuts, seeds and oils that are classified as phytosterols that can be added to any diet. These substances are extra virgin olive oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, sesame oil, roasted or raw peanuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, flax seed, cashews, almonds, pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds and walnuts. Phytosterols can also be added to the diet as a high-quality dietary supplement.

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