Beta-sitosterol is touted as a natural remedy for a variety of health conditions, including:
*[[Benign prostatic hyperplasia]] : There's some evidence that beta-sitosterol may help treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (or BPH, a condition commonly referred to as "enlarged prostate"). Although BPH rarely causes symptoms in men under age 40, many older men experience BPH-related symptoms (including urination and bladder problems). BPH is not linked to increased risk for prostate cancer. Beta-sitosterol appears to improve urological symptoms associated with BPH, according to a report published in BJU International in 1999. For the report, investigators analyzed four previously published clinical trials with a total of 519 men and a treatment period of four to 26 weeks. Although the report's authors concluded that short-term treatment with beta-sitosterol may help improve BPH symptoms, they caution that beta-sitosterol's effectiveness as a long-term BPH treatment is unknown. There is a lack of more recent research on the effectiveness of beta-sitosterol in the treatment of BPH.
* Cancer : Preliminary research suggests that beta-sitosterol may help fight colon cancer. In a 2010 laboratory study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, for instance, scientists found that beta-sitosterol isolated from the Asclepias curassavica plant inhibited the growth of human colon cancer cells.Some research indicates that beta-sitosterol may also fight breast cancer. For example, a 2003 laboratory study published in Oncology Reports found that beta-sitosterol induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, is key to halting the proliferation of cancer cells.Furthermore, a 2008 laboratory study published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research found that using beta-sitosterol in combination with the breast cancer drug tamoxifen may enhance the drug's effectiveness.It's important to note that more research needs to be conducted before beta-sitosterol can be recommended for the treatment or prevention of any form of cancer.
* to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, thereby contributing to a healthy heart and circulatory system. Beta-sitosterol mimics cholesterol in structure, but serves a very different biological function. Its similarities allow it to limit the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed by the body, giving the liver more time to capture and eliminate circulating cholesterol. Beta-sitosterol also tricks the cells into thinking it is cholesterol, thwarting the danger and providing a safe replacement.
*allergies