What are plant sterols?

I recently had a customer ask me what plant sterols, so I will try to answer that question today:

What are plant sterols?

The short answer is that plant sterols are naturally occurring substances that lower cholesterol. These have been around for thousands and thousands of yers. What is new however is that scientists have identified a way to separate the plant sterols from the rest of the plant and then add them to other foods. In theory this should allow people to lower the levels of bad cholesterol.

from the FDA:

"The FDA has authorized use of labeling health claims about the role of plant sterol or plant stanol esters in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) for foods containing these substances. This interim final rule is based on FDA's conclusion that plant sterol esters and plant stanol esters may reduce the risk of CHD by lowering blood cholesterol levels.

This new health claim is based on evidence that plant sterol or plant stanol esters may help to reduce the risk of CHD. Plant sterols are present in small quantities in many fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, legumes, and other plant sources. Plant stanols occur naturally in even smaller quantities from some of the same sources. For example, both plant sterols and stanols are found in vegetable oils."

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS01033.html

Plant sterols seemingly have no downside. From the Institute of Food Science and Technology:

"Plant sterols and plant stanols appear to be without hazard to health, having been shown without adverse effects in a large number of human studies. They show no evidence of toxicity even at high dose levels and gastro-intestinal absorption is low. In the United States a panel of independent experts has concluded that vegetable oil plant sterol esters and plant stanol esters are safe for use as an ingredient in vegetable oil spreads. Furthermore in the European Union a recently published opinion from the Scientific Committee on Food concluded that the use of phytosterol-esters in yellow fat spreads (maximum level of 8% free phytosterols) is safe for human use (European Commission Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General, April 2000)".http://www.ifst.org/hottop29.htm

Another food that has added plant sterols is Smart Balance's Omega Plus Spread. Smart Balance however claims their sterols are superior (at least to other spreads). I do not know enough on this to comment, but will give you their version:

Omega PLUS is unique in several ways. First, it contains the patented blend of balanced oils developed by nutrition scientists at Brandeis University. It contains no hydrogenated oils and no trans fatty acids to help enhance HDL/LDL. Secondly, it contains a phytosterol we call Natucol to help reduce LDL cholesterol. Unlike the other brands which use sterol or stanol esters, Natucol tm is a free sterol (not chemically modified by hydrogenation nor esterification). In addition, Omega PLUS contains organic Menhaden Oil, rich in long chain omega-3's to help promote a healthy level of blood triglycerides.That is why we call Omega PLUS, The Ultimate Spread™. It is like no other brand, not even like regular Smart Balance.

http://www.smartbalance.com/faq.html

I would add that nothing is ever totally certain, so all we can say is that the best scientific evidence we now have supports this view. I can say however that I do use both of these products quite regularly and really do enjoy their tastes.

(Just for complete disclosure: I drink the MinuteMaid Heartwise OJ about 20% of the time (so about a half gallon a week) and use the Omega Plus maybe once a day--interestingly one of our cats (Tiger) just loves the Smart Balance! If I open the top, she comes running every time!).