Encapsulated Sterols May Reduce Risk of Heart Disease

Filed in archive Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics on July 25, 2007

A study from the U.S. and Canada provides evidence that the regular use of plant sterol esters in capsule form was able to improve the blood lipid levels and may reduce the risk of heart disease.

According to the study's researchers:

"When ingested via food products, the optimal dose of phytosterols appears to be around 2 grams per day; however, the optimal dose of phytosterols when ingested in capsular form remains largely unexplored.

Our findings indicate that encapsulated phytosterol ester ingestion at 2.6 g/d does modulate some plasma lipid parameters, but it is possible that higher doses of phytosterols, when administered in this form, would be more effective.

Although our findings are promising, we propose that future research should focus on the optimal timing and dose of phytosterol supplementation when administered in capsular form, and future investigations should explore the utility of encapsulated phytosterol ingestion in larger, more heterogeneous populations."

Find more details from the full report.