Phytosterols: An Aid To Life

Phytosterols: An Aid To Life

Phytosterols, are also called plant sterols, naturally occur as a class of compounds found in the cells & membranes of plants. These plant lipid compounds are present at low levels in grains, fruits & vegetables. There are approximately 250 different sterols along with related compounds found in plant & marine materials with the most common ones being beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol & campesterol. Scientific research dating back to the 1950's documents the ability of phytosterols to block the absorption of cholesterol as well as to reduce blood cholesterol levels.

Phytosterols have a similar molecular structure to dietary & endogenously secreted cholesterol. The most abundant phytosterols (sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol) differ from cholesterol only in the identity of one side chain or the presence of an extra double bond. Cholesterol & phytosterol molecules are very similar, so much so that the human body cannot differenciate between them. Phytosterols compete with cholesterol for absorption in the small intestine. Interestingly phytosterols are not absorbed by the human body so any lipids that they absorb are disposed of by body during natural waste elimination cycles..

Cholesterol is absorbed in the upper 1/3 of the small intestine. Phytosterols actually block the absorption of dietary cholesterol into the bloodstream thus inhibiingt the re-absorption of cholesterol from bile acids in the digestive process. This causes the reduction of the amount of cholesterol entering the bloodstream. The absorption rate of phytosterols is approximately 1/10th that of cholesterol, meaning that the pathways in the intestine are occupied by phytosterols for an extended period of time, which makes the blocking process even more effective.

Most people consume 0.2 - 0.3 grams of phytosterols each day as part of a normal healthy diet. A large and growing number of clinical trials have shown that an additional one to two grams of phytosterols in the diet can reduce blood cholesterol levels significantly. An important study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1999 showed the relative decrease in Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol when hypercholesterolemic subjects on a low-fat diet consumed 1.8 grams of Reducol^TM per day, Forbes phytosterol-based food ingredient, suspended in margarine compared to a control margarine. The combined effects of the Reducol^TM and the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the base margarine resulted in 24% lowering in LDL over the 4 weeks of the study, compared to 9% LDL lowering effect in the control group.

For the millions of people all over the world looking to lead a healthy lifestyle, plant sterols offer a natural, safe and effective way to reduce cholesterol levels. 

Origins of Phytosterols
Phytosterols come to us from plant sources and have been proven to be beneficial in the treatment of many medical-health conditions. Phytosterols are wonderful for improving the immune system, helping to combat arthritis, reducing high cholesterol levels and for assisting diabetics to control blood glucose levels. Plant sterols (phytosterols) compete for absorption sites with those of cholesterol, an animal sterol, thus reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the body. LDL cholesterol levels as well as total cholesterol levels are significantly reduced by the ingestion of phytosterols.

Physterols are beta sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. These vitamin-like compounds occur naturally in vegetables, but may also be refined for better absorption by the body. The most effective phytosterols consist of a natural vegetable extract in which the plant sterols and their glycosides are extracted in the naturally occurring ratios.

A great many people do not consume a diet that includes a variety of vegetables & fruits daily. By doing so one will lower their overall cholesterol level and many cases the need fro medications such as statins can be eliminated.

A great deal of research has been and is still occurring into phytosterols and their use recently. Research has found that phytosterols are beneficial in treating a wide variety of diseases that are prevalent in modern society. Research has shown that phytosterols are essential nutrients that need to be consumed daily to ensure optimal functioning of the body's defense mechanisms.

Immune System Boost & AIDS
Many people suffering with AIDS and other immune system problems find that phytosterols help to boost their resistance and to raise their immunity levels..

Phytosterols  assist the T-cells in the treatment of immune system diseases. This done by the activation of T-cells to initiate the secretion of more immune factors thus slowing down the progress of the disease along with stabilizing the patients suffering from immune deficiency illnesses. It must be noted that phytosterols cannot cure any immune system illnesses but it can be a & is an invaluable assist in the treatment regimen of all immune system diseases.

Rheumatoid & Osteo-Arthritis
Sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis as well as suffers of osteo arthritis report greater mobility, less pain & much less inflamation. Phytosterols & sterolins are found in a wide variety of plants and are easily & effectively extracted as a dietary supplement, at relatively low cost.

Cancer
Many cancer patients report benefits from taking phytosterols & sterolins. Phytochemicals are known to help in containing the spread of cancer in the body. It must be noted that this is not a claim for a cancer cure, but rather a statement of what has been found by physicians treating cancer patients who have been using phytochemicals.

Additional Health Benefits
Numerous animal studies have shown that phytosterols are beneficial for treating infections caused by fungi & bacteria as wellas showing promise in the treating of tumors of the colon.

Phytosterols may be found in almost all fruits, vegetables & some seafoods. A additional serving of such things as cabbage, nuts, greens, apples, beries, melons, etc. just to list a few, can be a big help in raising the levels of phytosterols in your diet along with lowering your cholesterol levels!

Sources:

Lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis.
Gould RG.
American Journal of Medicine. 1951;X:209-227.

Dietary Cholesterol Feeding Suppresses Human Cholesterol Synthesis Measured by Deuterium Incorporation and Urinary Mevalonic Acid Levels
Peter J.H. Jones; Anuradha S. Pappu; Lauren Hatcher; Zi-Chi Li; D. Roger Illingworth; William E. Connor the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, Canada (P.J.H.J., Z.-C.L.), and the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Clinical Nutrition, Oregon Health Sciences Center University, Portland (A.S.O., L.H., D.R.I., W.E.C.).

Dietary sitostanol related to absorption, synthesis and serum level of cholesterol in different apolipoprotein E phenotypes.
Miettinen, T. A., Vanhanen, H. 1994.
Atherosclerosis. 105:217-226

Effect of membrane fatty acyl composition on LDL metabolism in HepG2 hepatocytes.
Kuo, P., Weinfeld, M., Loscalzo, J. 1990.
Biochemistry. 29:6626-6632

Phytosterols partially explain differences in cholesterol metabolism caused by corn or olive oil feeding
Tanya J. Howella, Diane E. MacDougalla, and Peter J. H. Jonesa a School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 3V9

http://www.jlr.org/cgi/content/full/39/4/892
http://www.jlr.org/cgi/content/full/39/4/892
http://www.forbesmedi.com/s/Phytosterols.asp
http://www.anyvitamins.com/phytosterols.htm
http://www.reducol.com
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/133/6/1815
http://www.jacn.org/cgi/content/full/20/4/307

Copyright © 2008 Donald R Houston, PhD. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the author's consent.