They are commonly found in the daily diet. Plants sterols accumulate in the lipid fraction of seeds and fruit. Substantial amounts of the major sterols, sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol can also found in cereals including wheat.
The plant sterols mixtures typically used in supplements to reduce cholesterol levels are usually extracted from pine tree wood pulp or soybean oil.
Plants sterols have long been known to reduce serum total and LDL cholesterol levels when consumed in the diet by lowering the intestinal absorption of dietary and biliary cholesterol.
Plant sterols interfere with cholesterol absorption by decreasing the micellar solubility or cholesterol.
Apart from lowering the cholesterol level, another useful function of plant sterols is that they play a protective role of the prostate. Plant sterols can significantly improve the condition of prostate enlargement and is just as effective as fintasteride.
Natural substances of plant sterols
