BETA SITOSTEROL 
One
of the most amazing developments in the area of natural remedies
is the discovery of phytonutrients. They are found in the cells
and membranes of most plants, seeds, grains, nuts, and also in
pine trees. Today's diets are generally deficient in phytonutrients,
due to the processing and storage methods used in modern foods.
Our bodies cannot make or store phytonutrients, and insufficient
dietary intake can result in a weak immune system and a consequent
deterioration of health.
The
best known members of the phytonutrient family are beta sitosterol,
stigmasterol, campesterol, brassicasterol and their associated
glucosides. The most remarkable member of this family is beta
sitosterol. Beta sitosterol is chemically similar to cholesterol,
but is totally different in its biological function. There are
literally hundreds of studies and reports that attest to the effectiveness
of this natural plant derivative, beta sitosterol, in preventing
disease and maintaining health. Phytonutrients have been extensively
tested in clinical trials involving over 25,000 patients with
no known toxicity and no well known drug interactions. (1).
Phytonutrients
in their natural state are often bound to the fibers of plants,
making them difficult to absorb during digestion, particularly
in the case of older people and those having weak digestive systems.
Only plants can synthesize phytonutrients, and humans and animals
have to obtain them from their diet. Even though their absorption
efficiency is low, their apparent synergistic stimulatorary effect
on the immune system and prophylactic effect on a variety of diseases
indicate their importance in human and animal nutrition. (2).
Our
bodies cannot synthesize beta sitosterol and its elimination rate
is relatively fast. Beta sitosterol has been proven to be very
safe due to its poor solubility, low absorption and rapid excretion
into the intestinal tract unchanged. Supplementation of the diet
with phytonutrients provides important therapeutic as well as
preventative health benefits.
Clinical
studies have shown that patients devoid of phytonutrients rapidly
become free of beta sitosterol (3). This implies that these nutrients
should be taken daily and an insufficient dietary intake could
rapidly result in deficient pool sizes in the body with a consequent
deterioration of health. The recommended daily intake of phytonutrients
is 200-300mg per day. Interestingly enough some vegetarian diets
appear to result in a deficiency of phytonutrients.
Research
has shown phytonutrients to have important immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory,
anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties. They are
thought to be responsible for the health benefits of a variety
of medicinal herbs including saw palmetto, pygeum, pumpkin seeds,
devils claw, milk thistle, ginkgo, panax and Siberian ginseng.
1.
Arthritis Trust of America Bulletin, Summer 98
2. Pegel KH, S. African J Sci Vol 93
3. Salen et al Jnl of Clin. Invest. Vol 49
© Celt Naturals 2002-2010
