Phytosterols

Phytosterols/Nutrient Depletion:

  • Beta-caroteneBeta-carotene: In a human study, consumption of a cocoa snack bar containing 1.5g of phytosterol was associated with a significant reduction in lipid-adjusted serum beta-carotene (159).
  • Carotenoids (other)Carotenoids (other): Clinical trials have demonstrated that plant sterols in doses of up to 1.5g daily may reduce blood levels of lutein and lycopene (190).
  • LipidsLipids: Many studies in humans and animals have demonstrated that supplementation of beta-sitosterol into the diet decreased total serum cholesterol, as well as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (190; 43; 216; 217; 218; 219; 220; 195; 221; 44; 222; 223; 224; 225; 110; 187; 165; 45; 46; 47; 127; 226; 227; 48; 80; 228; 229; 230; 231; 181; 232; 32; 233; 49; 234; 235; 236; 208; 237; 18; 238; 50; 11; 81; 239; 183; 155; 23; 52; 240; 241; 242; 182; 243; 82; 244; 245; 246; 247; 53; 54; 248; 249). Clinical trials have shown additive effects of plant sterols or stanols and statins (179; 250).