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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Compound

Phytosterols (Plant Sterols)

aka Beta-sitosterol

Plant sterols/stanols competitively inhibit cholesterol absorption.

Cardiovascular Health

Overview

Plant sterols/stanols competitively inhibit cholesterol absorption.

Natural sources
  • Vegetable oils
  • Nuts
  • Fortified foods
Common forms
  • Sitosterol
  • Stanol esters

Mechanism of action

Compete with cholesterol for micellar incorporation in gut.

Pathways
  • · Cholesterol absorption inhibition

Effects on the body

Decreases
LDL cholesterol

Organ system effects

Cardiovascular

Reduces LDL ~10%.

Evidence-based benefits

Reduces LDL ~10% at 2 g/d

Strong evidence

Potential side effects

Common
    Rare
      Serious
      • · Sitosterolemia in rare genetic disorder

      Drug interactions

      Ezetimibe
      Additive cholesterol absorption block.
      minor
      Fat-soluble vitamins
      Slight absorption reduction.
      minor

      Supplement interactions

      Pairs well with

      None listed.

      Avoid combining with

      No specific avoidances listed.

      Dosing & bioavailability

      Typical dose
      2 g/d with meals

      Where to buy

      Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

      Compound
      Phytosterols…
      Amazon
      Wide selection · fast shipping
      Compound
      Phytosterols…
      iHerb
      Global delivery · curated brands
      Compound
      Phytosterols…
      Thorne
      Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

      Scientific evidence (8)

      Meta-analysisJ Nutr · 2009

      Plant sterols and stanols on LDL cholesterol

      Demonty I, et al.

      Meta-analysis of 84 RCTs of 2 g/d plant sterols.

      Key findings

      Mean LDL reduction of 8.8%.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) — Reduces LDL ~10% at 2 g/d

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) Reduces LDL ~10% at 2 g/d" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) and "Reduces LDL ~10% at 2 g/d". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) — randomized controlled trial

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) — meta-analysis

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) — pharmacokinetics

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) — safety adverse events

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) — dose response

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

      Google Scholar: Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) — clinical evidence

      Live Scholar search

      Cross-database citation index for Phytosterols (Plant Sterols) as it relates to "clinical evidence".

      Key findings

      Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

      Open study
      Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.