Can Plant Sterols & Stanols Reduce Your High Cholesterol?

Plant sterols and stanols are also known as phytosterols. They are good for your health in many ways. One of their most interesting benefits is their natural cholesterol lowering capabilities. They also promote prostate health and strengthen your immune system.

It is remarkable that these plant sterols and stanols have the capability of lowering high cholesterol, even though their chemical composition in very similar to cholesterol.

Since the 1950s, numerous studies have confirmed sterols’ cholesterol-reducing properties. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that a daily intake of 1,800–2,600 mg of plant sterols and stanols, decreased total cholesterol by 10.2%, with the LDLs, which are commonly referred to as the "bad cholesterol", dropping by 14.1%.

Several mechanisms of action have been proposed to explain why this happens. The most popular is that the structural similarities between sterols and cholesterol, cause the two to compete for absorption in the small intestine.

The result is the lowering of the blood serum levels of LDLs while leaving HDLs, which is considered the “good cholesterol", mostly unaffected. The result is also a more favorable cholesterol ratio.

These plant sterols do not interfere with other cholesterol-lowering supplements or drugs, so they can be safely combined with other treatment protocols, such as statins.

Statins do however come with significant potential side effects, so if you can get your cholesterol where you and your doctor want to have it naturally and without potential side effects, this might be something that you would want to share with your doctor who prescribed the statins. Together, you might be able to work on getting yourself off of the statins and still have your cholesterol in the range and in the ratio that your doctor wants!

Since sterols are bound to plant fibers, it is difficult for your body to absorb them. Storing, freezing and cooking can also deactivate these fragile compounds. As a result, we rarely get sufficient quantities of plant sterols and stanols from our modern diets.

The simplest way to get therapeutic amounts of plant sterols and stanols is by taking them in supplement form.

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