A recent review conducted by researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that plant sterols, also known as phytosterols, may be a safe and effective short-term treatment for patients with high cholesterol.
Beta-sitosterol, which is found in avocados, peanuts, soybeans and other plant-based products, is one of the most common dietary plant sterols. Beta-sitosterol, classified as a non-cholesterol sterol, is the main sterol in the Western diet. Many products, such as margarine, are enriched with plant sterols and often marketed for their ability to help lower cholesterol.
In this review, the researchers found that the dietary integration of two grams of plant sterols per day over the course of one year was associated with a significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or the "bad" cholesterol). Plant sterols were incorporated into the daily diet through various products, including margarine, olive oil, orange juice, yogurt and others. The results were found in patients with type 2 diabetes, adults with elevated and normal cholesterol levels as well as in children.
Furthermore, the authors noted that several well-designed clinical trials found that plant sterols in addition to conventional statin therapy were associated with 7-20 percent reductions in LDL cholesterol.
The authors concluded that plant sterols may provide an average LDL cholesterol reduction of 10-11 percent; however, long-term safety and effectiveness are still unknown. Additional research is necessary.
For more information about phytosterols, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.
References
Malinowski JM, Gehret MM. Phytosterols for dyslipidemia. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010 Jul 15;67(14):1165-73. View Abstract
Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. http://www.naturalstandard.com/
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