Background
Plant sterols are an important but underused dietary component in
the treatment of elevated blood cholesterol.
Objective
This review discusses the background to plant sterol use and reviews
evidence about its use in clinical practice.
Discussion
When consumed in the recommended amounts, sterols alone
decrease low density lipoprotein cholesterol; in combination with
other dietary changes, low density lipoprotein can be further lowered.
Most patients, whether they are on cholesterol lowering drugs or not,
would benefit from using plant sterols, which are now available in
milk and yoghurt as well as spreads. In animal models, plant sterols
have been shown to reduce atherosclerosis despite an elevation
in the blood level, however there is no hard end point data for this
in humans.
Download the PDF for the full article.
Download article PDF