Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Phytosterols?BenefitsSide EffectsBest Foods
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Phytosterols?
Benefits
Side Effects
Best Foods
Phytosterols, also known as plant sterols or stanol esters, are naturally occurring compounds found in plants that are similar in structure to cholesterol found in humans. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and certain grains and oils add phytosterols to your diet. Some products, like juices, have phytosterols added to them.
Phytosterols can potentially lower the cholesterol levels in your blood, most especially the “bad"low-density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol that can clog your arteries. When taken as a supplement, phytosterols may help lower your LDL andtotal cholesterollevels.
This article discusses how phytosterols may help in controlling cholesterol levels. It presents other health claims (including how phytosterols can promoteheart healthor preventcancer) for which there is limited research evidence and also explains who should not use phytosterols.
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Phytosterols are a compound found in many plant foods. A typical western diet contains approximately 300 milligrams (mg) of plant sterols, while a vegetarian diet contains between 300 and 500 mg per day.
This amount is considered small to achieve the desired reduction in LDL in people withhypercholesterolemia(a specific type of high cholesterol) or an inherited genetic disorder known asfamilial hypercholesterolemia.
To meet this goal, you would either need to consume phytosterol-enriched foods or take a daily supplement.
Food Sources
Foods contain phytosterols in different amounts. Soybeans, green peas, and kidney beans are excellent sources, as are many legumes often found invegan diets. Many nuts and oils also provide phytosterols. The compounds may be added to:
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What Are the Health Benefits of Phytosterols?
With that being said, the evidence remains mixed as to whether phytosterol supplementation actually translates to a reduction in the risk ofcardiovascular disease(CVD).
Cardiovascular Risk
A 2012 review of studies from Germany, which evaluated 17 clinical trials from 1950 to 2010, could not find any association between phytosterol concentrations in the blood and the risk of CVD.
A2013 studyfrom Finland reported that a daily 3-gram intake of phytosterols reduced arterial stiffness, especially in men.Yet a 2015 study from Germany showed no discernable difference in adults following the same dietary regimen.
There’s still no clear evidence that phytosterols in the diet can limit the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other CVD conditions.Researchers say longer studies of at least 10 years, following tens of thousands of people over time, are needed to better understand the impacts of phytosterols, especially relating to the prevention ofatherosclerosis(hardening of the arteries).
Lowering Cholesterol
Despite the contradictory findings, most health experts agree that thereduction of LDLis beneficial no matter what the implication regarding CVD risk.What the research does definitively show is that phytosterol supplements work best when used as part of a treatment plan, which includesdiet, exercise, and traditionalcholesterol-lowering drugs.
Cancer Treatment and Prevention
Some studies suggest a role for phytosterols in cancer treatment and prevention. The scientific evidence is still inconclusive, but there may be benefits for people diagnosed with:
Low levels of plant sterols also have been associated withgallstonedisease.Researchers continue to pursue the evidence of anti-inflammatory benefits from phytosterols, in order to manage other medical conditions including chronic kidney disease and respiratory illnesses.
Some scientists find that a diet rich in beta-sitosterol, as is the case for vegetarians and those living in Asian countries, is directly responsible (in part) for lower incidence of prostate, colon, andesophageal cancers.
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Are there Side Effects From Taking Phytosterol Supplements?
The current evidence suggests that phytosterol supplements are relatively safe and well-tolerated.Side effects, if any, tend to be mild and may include constipation, nausea, upset stomach, heartburn, flatulence, and the discoloration of stools. Many of these symptoms will resolve on their own once your body adapts to the supplement.
Unless there is a diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia, phytosterol supplements should not be used in children. Even then, speak with your healthcare provider before starting treatment. The supplement is also not advised in pregnant or breastfeeding women due to the lack of safety research.
Drug Interactions
Phytosterol supplements may reduce the effectiveness of the cholesterol-lowering drugQuestran(cholestyramine). To avoid an interaction, take the supplement several hours before or after your Questran dose.
It is unknown what other drugs phytosterol may interact with. To be safe, always advise your healthcare provider about any supplements or non-prescription drugs you are taking to avoid interactions and possible side effects.
What is a Healthy Cholesterol Level By Age?
What Foods Are Highest in Phytosterols?
Food should always be your first source of micronutrients, and this includesphytosterol-containing foods. These same foods tend to be high in fiber and antioxidants that protect the heart and keep your blood fats in check.
Summary
Phytosterols occur naturally in many foods or can be added to the diet with supplements. They can potentially help you to manage LDL cholesterol levels and your overall health through lower lipid levels.
Phytosterols also are believed to have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. Studies suggest a role for sterols in preventing cancer, stroke and other cardiovascular disease, gallstones, and more.
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15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Higdon J.Phytosterols. Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center.Abumweis SS, Marinangeli CP, Frohlich J, Jones PJ.Implementing phytosterols into medical practice as a cholesterol-lowering strategy: overview of efficacy, effectiveness and safety.Can J Cardiol.2014;30:1225-32. doi:10.1016/j.cjca.2014.04.022Cabral CE, Klein MRST.Phytosterols in the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia and Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases.Arq Bras Cardiol. 2017 Nov;109(5):475-482. doi:10.5935/abc.20170158.Genser B, Silbernagel G, De Backer G, et al.Plant sterols and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur Heart J.2012;33(4):444-51. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehr441Gylling H, Halonen J, Lindholm H, Kontinnen J, Simonen P, Nissinen M,et al.The effects of plant stanol ester consumption on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in adults: a randomised controlled clinical trial.BMC Cardiovasc Disord13, 50 (2013). doi:10.1186/1471-2261-13-50Ras RT, Fuchs D, Koppenol WP, Garczarek U, Greyling A, Keicher C,et al.The effect of a low-fat spread with added plant sterols on vascular function markers: results of the Investigating Vascular Function Effects of Plant Sterols (INVEST) study.Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Apr;101(4):733-41. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.102053.American Heart Association.‘Bad’ Cholesterol Can Be Deadly in Otherwise Healthy People.Khan Z, Nath N, Rauf A, Emran TB, Mitra S, Islam F,et al.Multifunctional roles and pharmacological potential of β-sitosterol: Emerging evidence toward clinical applications.Chem Biol Interact. 2022 Sep 25;365:110117. doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110117.Bhattacharya T, Dutta S, Akter R, Rahman MH, Karthika C, Nagaswarupa HP,et al.Role of Phytonutrients in Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Perspective in Curing Breast Cancer.Biomolecules. 2021 Aug 9;11(8):1176. doi:10.3390/biom11081176.Käkelä P, Männistö V, Ilves I, Vaittinen M, Tauriainen MM, Eskelinen M,et al.Serum Plant Sterols Associate with Gallstone Disease Independent of Weight Loss and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.Obes Surg. 2017 May;27(5):1284-1291. doi:10.1007/s11695-016-2446-z.Wang H, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Liu J, Hong L.β-Sitosterol as a Promising Anticancer Agent for Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy: Mechanisms of Action and Future Prospects.Adv Nutr. 2023 May 27:S2161-8313(23)00318-6. doi:10.1016/j.advnut.2023.05.013.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.High Cholesterol and Natural Products: What the Science Says.Benito-Vicente A, Uribe KB, Jebari S, Galicia-Garcia U, Ostolaza H, Martin C.Familial Hypercholesterolemia: The Most Frequent Cholesterol Metabolism Disorder Caused Disease.Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Nov 1;19(11):3426. doi:10.3390/ijms19113426.Baumgartner S, Ras RT, Trautwein EA, Mensink RP, Plat J.Plasma fat-soluble vitamin and carotenoid concentrations after plant sterol and plant stanol consumption: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Eur J Nutr. 2017;56(3):909-923. doi:10.1007/s00394-016-1289-7Rawal G, Yadav S, Nagayach S.Phytosterols and the Health.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Higdon J.Phytosterols. Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center.Abumweis SS, Marinangeli CP, Frohlich J, Jones PJ.Implementing phytosterols into medical practice as a cholesterol-lowering strategy: overview of efficacy, effectiveness and safety.Can J Cardiol.2014;30:1225-32. doi:10.1016/j.cjca.2014.04.022Cabral CE, Klein MRST.Phytosterols in the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia and Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases.Arq Bras Cardiol. 2017 Nov;109(5):475-482. doi:10.5935/abc.20170158.Genser B, Silbernagel G, De Backer G, et al.Plant sterols and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur Heart J.2012;33(4):444-51. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehr441Gylling H, Halonen J, Lindholm H, Kontinnen J, Simonen P, Nissinen M,et al.The effects of plant stanol ester consumption on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in adults: a randomised controlled clinical trial.BMC Cardiovasc Disord13, 50 (2013). doi:10.1186/1471-2261-13-50Ras RT, Fuchs D, Koppenol WP, Garczarek U, Greyling A, Keicher C,et al.The effect of a low-fat spread with added plant sterols on vascular function markers: results of the Investigating Vascular Function Effects of Plant Sterols (INVEST) study.Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Apr;101(4):733-41. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.102053.American Heart Association.‘Bad’ Cholesterol Can Be Deadly in Otherwise Healthy People.Khan Z, Nath N, Rauf A, Emran TB, Mitra S, Islam F,et al.Multifunctional roles and pharmacological potential of β-sitosterol: Emerging evidence toward clinical applications.Chem Biol Interact. 2022 Sep 25;365:110117. doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110117.Bhattacharya T, Dutta S, Akter R, Rahman MH, Karthika C, Nagaswarupa HP,et al.Role of Phytonutrients in Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Perspective in Curing Breast Cancer.Biomolecules. 2021 Aug 9;11(8):1176. doi:10.3390/biom11081176.Käkelä P, Männistö V, Ilves I, Vaittinen M, Tauriainen MM, Eskelinen M,et al.Serum Plant Sterols Associate with Gallstone Disease Independent of Weight Loss and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.Obes Surg. 2017 May;27(5):1284-1291. doi:10.1007/s11695-016-2446-z.Wang H, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Liu J, Hong L.β-Sitosterol as a Promising Anticancer Agent for Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy: Mechanisms of Action and Future Prospects.Adv Nutr. 2023 May 27:S2161-8313(23)00318-6. doi:10.1016/j.advnut.2023.05.013.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.High Cholesterol and Natural Products: What the Science Says.Benito-Vicente A, Uribe KB, Jebari S, Galicia-Garcia U, Ostolaza H, Martin C.Familial Hypercholesterolemia: The Most Frequent Cholesterol Metabolism Disorder Caused Disease.Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Nov 1;19(11):3426. doi:10.3390/ijms19113426.Baumgartner S, Ras RT, Trautwein EA, Mensink RP, Plat J.Plasma fat-soluble vitamin and carotenoid concentrations after plant sterol and plant stanol consumption: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Eur J Nutr. 2017;56(3):909-923. doi:10.1007/s00394-016-1289-7Rawal G, Yadav S, Nagayach S.Phytosterols and the Health.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Higdon J.Phytosterols. Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center.Abumweis SS, Marinangeli CP, Frohlich J, Jones PJ.Implementing phytosterols into medical practice as a cholesterol-lowering strategy: overview of efficacy, effectiveness and safety.Can J Cardiol.2014;30:1225-32. doi:10.1016/j.cjca.2014.04.022Cabral CE, Klein MRST.Phytosterols in the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia and Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases.Arq Bras Cardiol. 2017 Nov;109(5):475-482. doi:10.5935/abc.20170158.Genser B, Silbernagel G, De Backer G, et al.Plant sterols and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur Heart J.2012;33(4):444-51. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehr441Gylling H, Halonen J, Lindholm H, Kontinnen J, Simonen P, Nissinen M,et al.The effects of plant stanol ester consumption on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in adults: a randomised controlled clinical trial.BMC Cardiovasc Disord13, 50 (2013). doi:10.1186/1471-2261-13-50Ras RT, Fuchs D, Koppenol WP, Garczarek U, Greyling A, Keicher C,et al.The effect of a low-fat spread with added plant sterols on vascular function markers: results of the Investigating Vascular Function Effects of Plant Sterols (INVEST) study.Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Apr;101(4):733-41. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.102053.American Heart Association.‘Bad’ Cholesterol Can Be Deadly in Otherwise Healthy People.Khan Z, Nath N, Rauf A, Emran TB, Mitra S, Islam F,et al.Multifunctional roles and pharmacological potential of β-sitosterol: Emerging evidence toward clinical applications.Chem Biol Interact. 2022 Sep 25;365:110117. doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110117.Bhattacharya T, Dutta S, Akter R, Rahman MH, Karthika C, Nagaswarupa HP,et al.Role of Phytonutrients in Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Perspective in Curing Breast Cancer.Biomolecules. 2021 Aug 9;11(8):1176. doi:10.3390/biom11081176.Käkelä P, Männistö V, Ilves I, Vaittinen M, Tauriainen MM, Eskelinen M,et al.Serum Plant Sterols Associate with Gallstone Disease Independent of Weight Loss and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.Obes Surg. 2017 May;27(5):1284-1291. doi:10.1007/s11695-016-2446-z.Wang H, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Liu J, Hong L.β-Sitosterol as a Promising Anticancer Agent for Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy: Mechanisms of Action and Future Prospects.Adv Nutr. 2023 May 27:S2161-8313(23)00318-6. doi:10.1016/j.advnut.2023.05.013.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.High Cholesterol and Natural Products: What the Science Says.Benito-Vicente A, Uribe KB, Jebari S, Galicia-Garcia U, Ostolaza H, Martin C.Familial Hypercholesterolemia: The Most Frequent Cholesterol Metabolism Disorder Caused Disease.Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Nov 1;19(11):3426. doi:10.3390/ijms19113426.Baumgartner S, Ras RT, Trautwein EA, Mensink RP, Plat J.Plasma fat-soluble vitamin and carotenoid concentrations after plant sterol and plant stanol consumption: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Eur J Nutr. 2017;56(3):909-923. doi:10.1007/s00394-016-1289-7Rawal G, Yadav S, Nagayach S.Phytosterols and the Health.
Higdon J.Phytosterols. Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center.
Abumweis SS, Marinangeli CP, Frohlich J, Jones PJ.Implementing phytosterols into medical practice as a cholesterol-lowering strategy: overview of efficacy, effectiveness and safety.Can J Cardiol.2014;30:1225-32. doi:10.1016/j.cjca.2014.04.022
Cabral CE, Klein MRST.Phytosterols in the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia and Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases.Arq Bras Cardiol. 2017 Nov;109(5):475-482. doi:10.5935/abc.20170158.
Genser B, Silbernagel G, De Backer G, et al.Plant sterols and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur Heart J.2012;33(4):444-51. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehr441
Gylling H, Halonen J, Lindholm H, Kontinnen J, Simonen P, Nissinen M,et al.The effects of plant stanol ester consumption on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in adults: a randomised controlled clinical trial.BMC Cardiovasc Disord13, 50 (2013). doi:10.1186/1471-2261-13-50
Ras RT, Fuchs D, Koppenol WP, Garczarek U, Greyling A, Keicher C,et al.The effect of a low-fat spread with added plant sterols on vascular function markers: results of the Investigating Vascular Function Effects of Plant Sterols (INVEST) study.Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Apr;101(4):733-41. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.102053.
American Heart Association.‘Bad’ Cholesterol Can Be Deadly in Otherwise Healthy People.
Khan Z, Nath N, Rauf A, Emran TB, Mitra S, Islam F,et al.Multifunctional roles and pharmacological potential of β-sitosterol: Emerging evidence toward clinical applications.Chem Biol Interact. 2022 Sep 25;365:110117. doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110117.
Bhattacharya T, Dutta S, Akter R, Rahman MH, Karthika C, Nagaswarupa HP,et al.Role of Phytonutrients in Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Perspective in Curing Breast Cancer.Biomolecules. 2021 Aug 9;11(8):1176. doi:10.3390/biom11081176.
Käkelä P, Männistö V, Ilves I, Vaittinen M, Tauriainen MM, Eskelinen M,et al.Serum Plant Sterols Associate with Gallstone Disease Independent of Weight Loss and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.Obes Surg. 2017 May;27(5):1284-1291. doi:10.1007/s11695-016-2446-z.
Wang H, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Liu J, Hong L.β-Sitosterol as a Promising Anticancer Agent for Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy: Mechanisms of Action and Future Prospects.Adv Nutr. 2023 May 27:S2161-8313(23)00318-6. doi:10.1016/j.advnut.2023.05.013.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.High Cholesterol and Natural Products: What the Science Says.
Benito-Vicente A, Uribe KB, Jebari S, Galicia-Garcia U, Ostolaza H, Martin C.Familial Hypercholesterolemia: The Most Frequent Cholesterol Metabolism Disorder Caused Disease.Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Nov 1;19(11):3426. doi:10.3390/ijms19113426.
Baumgartner S, Ras RT, Trautwein EA, Mensink RP, Plat J.Plasma fat-soluble vitamin and carotenoid concentrations after plant sterol and plant stanol consumption: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Eur J Nutr. 2017;56(3):909-923. doi:10.1007/s00394-016-1289-7
Rawal G, Yadav S, Nagayach S.Phytosterols and the Health.
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