Phytosterols clinical studies

The use of plant sterols—(3-sitostcrol and sitostanol in consumer products to decrease cholesterol is supported by numerous clinical studies that document their efficacy in lowering mild hyperlipidemia (Jones et al., 1998 Hallikainen and Uusitupa, 1999). Although the normal diet contains plant sterols that range from 160 to 360 mg/day, a 5- to 10-fold increase is required to exert a cholesterol-lowering effect. Consumer products with increased amounts of phytosterols that exceed the content found in the diet have been made available to the consumer. In evaluating the efficacy of including sitostanol ester in margarine as a dietary supplement for children with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), it was found that serum total cholesterol (TC), intermediate density lipoprotein-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels fell while the HDL-cholesterol/LDL-cholesterol ratio was elevated. 

A 2004 clinical study at the University of California-Davis demonstrated that only 2 grams of phytosterol intake per day from drinking a fortified orange juice reduced blood low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 12 percent over just two months Numerous other consumer products now contain phytosterols examples are margarine, multivitamins, soy and rice milk, dairy products, bread, and granola bars. Look for these products and try to involve them in your diet, even if your LDL cholesterol level is normal. 

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