Lipid-lowering Activity of Natural and Semi-Synthetic Sterols and Stanols

Abstract

-Consumption of plant sterols/ stanols has long been demonstrated to reduce plasma cholesterol levels. The objective of this review is to demonstrate the lipid-lowering activity and antiatherogenic effects of natural and semi-synthetic plant sterols/ stanols based on evidence from cell-culture studies, animal studies and clinical trials. Additionally, this review highlights certain molecular mechanisms by which plant sterols/ stanols lower plasma cholesterol levels with a special emphasis on factors that affect the cholesterol-lowering activity of plant sterols/stanols. The crystalline nature and the poor oil solubility of these natural products could be important factors that limit their cholesterol-lowering efficiency. Several attempts have been made to improve the cholesterol-lowering activity by enhancing the bioavailability of crystalline sterols and stanols. Approaches involved reduction of the crystal size and/or esterification with fatty acids from vegetable or fish oils. However, the most promising approach in this context is the chemical modification of plant sterols /stanols into water soluble disodium ascorbyl phytostanyl phosphates analogue by esterification with ascorbic acid. This novel semi-synthetic stanol derivative has improved efficacy over natural plant sterols/ stanols and can provide additional benefits by combining the cholesterol-lowering properties of plant stanols with the antioxidant potential of ascorbic acid.

LDL-Cholesterol Lowering of Plant Sterols and Stanols—Which Factors Influence Their Efficacy?

“…Evidence for novel PSS formulations, such as alternative esters like a disodium ascorbyl phytostanyl phosphate analogue [ 35 ] or a triglyceride-recrystallized PSter complex [ 36 , 37 ] is still too scarce to conclude on a comparable efficacy of established formulations with free and esterified PSter and PStan.…”

Decreasing the Cholesterol Burden in Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia Children by Dietary Plant Stanol Esters

“…This review discusses the current knowledge about plant stanol esters as a dietary treatment option for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (he-FH) children. Since the majority of reviews on dietary phytosterols (the common term for plant sterol and plant stanols) focus on plant sterols [1,2], we solely discuss the role of supplementation of the diet with plant stanols. For a comprehensive coverage of dietary supplementation with both plant sterols and stanols, we refer to the recent European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) position paper in which the topic is discussed comprehensively at the population level [3].…”

Elemental and Phytochemicals Profile in Ethno Medicinal Plants Used for Treating Cardiovascular Diseases by Mizo-Tribe of North Eastern India

“…The phytosterols especially stigmasterol and β-sitosterol may play a pivotal role in maintaining healthy heart cells as these compounds are essential constituents of cellular membranes playing a key role stabilizing the phospholipids, which assist to maintain the fluidity and permeability of cell membrane of heart. Moreover, due to similarity in structure with cholesterol, these phytosterols may acts as cardio protective agents by their lipid lowering effects in the body as elevated level blood cholesterol is consider one major risk factor for the development of the cardiovascular diseases [36,37]. In this regards, McKenney et al [38], also reported that the reductions of cholesterol in body can be achieved by consumption of esterified plant sterols.…”