Plant Stanol & Sterol Supplements

Plant Compounds

• Plant compounds consist of two or more chemical elements that make up a material or substance within a plant. Stanol and steroid plant compounds come from chemicals found within plant cell membranes. Their chemical structures bear a strong resemblance to the cholesterol found inside human and animal cells. When metabolized in the body, these compounds compete with other forms of cholesterol, meaning the body prefers to metabolize them rather than animal-based types of cholesterol. Their overall effects work to eliminate harmful low-density lipoprotein cholesterols (LDLs) while maintaining beneficial high-density lipoprotein cholesterols (HDLs), which assist the body in preventing the build-up of LDLs in the blood. Sterol and stanol supplements also assist the body in eliminating harmful LDL cholesterols. According to the Southwestern Medical Center, incorporating 2 grams of sterol and stanol supplements a day can reduce a person's total blood cholesterol level by 10 percent. Also, while the body may prefer to metabolize plant compounds in place of animal-based cholesterols, most plant compounds aren't absorbed into the bloodstream, but are excreted from the body. (see Reference 1)

Sterols

• Sterol compounds exist in over 250 different varieties within plant species, according to the Cyberlipid Center, a cholesterol health-resource site. Their chemical structure consists of 28 to 30 carbon atoms and one or two double-bonded carbon atoms. Because of their chemical structure, the body can absorb small amounts of sterols during the metabolism process, which contributes to the buildup of LDL cholesterols in the blood, according to the Southwestern Medical Center. Sterol supplements can be purchased in pill form, or incorporated within a daily diet. Dietary sources of sterol compounds can contain different concentrations of sterols that range anywhere from 1 milligram per gram to 4 milligrams per gram. Oils made from palm, olive, coconut and avocado may contain 1 milligram per gram, while oils made from canola, rapeseed, corn and sesame can contain as much as 4 milligrams per gram. (see Reference 2)

Stanol

• Stanol compounds are actually a modified version of plant sterols. Stanol compounds lack the double-bonded carbon atoms found in sterols, which makes them more soluble than sterols. This change in structure prevents the body from absorbing them during digestion and so avoids the additional cholesterol buildup in the blood. Plant stanols can specifically target LDL cholesterol-absorption sites, which prevents animal-based LDL cholesterols from being absorbed during digestion. According to the Southwestern Medical Center, incorporating 3 grams of stanol supplements a day can reduce a person's LDL cholesterol level by 10 to 15 percent. Dietary sources of plant stanols include seeds, nuts and legumes as well as Benecol, a commercially produced margarine brand. (see Reference 1)