Difference between revisions of "Plant Sterols"

Revision as of 00:58, 6 October 2012

Sterols are present in both plants as well as animals. Animal sterols are nothing but cholesterol, while plant sterols or phytosterols are plant versions of cholesterol. They are compounds found naturally in the cell walls of plants and are present in small amounts on all kinds of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, etc. Plant sterols are present in larger amounts in corn oil, sesame and cotton oil and help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risks of heart diseases. They work primarily by blocking the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine, thereby lowering the LDL cholesterol in the body. Plant-based foods contain small amounts of plant sterols, however, the interest in them has spearheaded their addition into dietary supplements and functional foods like margarines and spreads. Chemically similar to cholesterol, plant sterols are also available in dietary supplement form. Plant sterols are found naturally in the following foods:

• almonds
• Brussels sprouts
• peanuts
• vegetable oils (including canola, corn, olive, and sesame oil)
• wheat bran
• wheat germ
• In addition, a number of fortified foods (including cereal, milk, orange juice, vegetable oil spreads, and yogurt) contain added plant sterols.

Special Precautions of Plant Sterols

Over 80 studies conducted have shown no signs of any side effects when plant sterols are taken in appropriate amounts. However, when taken in high doses, certain mild side effects are seen to have occurred. The different side effects are:

• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Erectile Dysfunction or Impotence
• Decreased sex drive

The benefits of Plant Sterols are

• Studies suggest that plant sterols may help keep cholesterol in check by inhibiting the intestines' absorption of cholesterol. In doing so, plant sterols help to reduce circulating levels of cholesterol and lower your levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

In the following table is a list of foods high/low in phytosterols. Generally, oils have high phytosterol content where as vegetables and fruits have lower content. The phytosterol content presented below is the sum of beta sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol.

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