Topic Overview
What is beta-sitosterol plant extract?
Beta-sitosterol is one of many sterols that come
from plants (phytosterols) and have a structure like the cholesterol produced
in the body. You can find phytosterols in many plants and thus in foods such as
rice bran, wheat germ, corn oils, soybeans, and peanuts. Beta-sitosterol is
also available as a dietary supplement.
What is beta-sitosterol used for?
Beta-sitosterol is said to lower
cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of some
cancers. It also is said to relieve symptoms of
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). How beta-sitosterol works is not known. It may
be related to cholesterol
metabolism or anti-inflammatory effects.
A review of studies done on beta-sitosterol showed that men who took it had fewer symptoms than men who took a placebo. Symptoms were measured using the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index. Men who took beta-sitosterol also had a better urine flow rate then men who took a placebo.footnote 1
Research supports the fact that phytosterols,
including beta-sitosterol, can reduce cholesterol levels. Some studies suggest
that phytosterols may reduce the risk of some cancers, but more research is
needed to know how well they really work.
Is beta-sitosterol safe?
Few problems have been reported among
men taking beta-sitosterol for BPH. Some men may have problems with their
stomach and digestion. Beta-sitosterol's ability to prevent complications of
BPH is not known.
Men who have problems urinating should see a
doctor to rule out prostate cancer or other diseases. Prostate cancer is
treatable, but treatment may be more successful when you find and treat the
cancer as early as possible.
Some studies have shown that
phytosterols can help lower cholesterol. But the long-term effects of eating
foods that have phytosterols added to them (for example, some margarines) or
taking phytosterols as a dietary supplement are not yet known.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary
supplements in the same way it regulates medicines. A dietary supplement can be
sold with limited or no research on how well it works.
Always
tell your doctor if you are using a dietary supplement or if you are thinking
about combining a dietary supplement with your conventional medical treatment.
It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only
on a dietary supplement. This is especially important for women who are
pregnant or breastfeeding.
When using dietary supplements, keep
in mind the following:
- Like conventional medicines, dietary supplements may cause side
effects, trigger allergic reactions, or interact with prescription and
nonprescription medicines or other supplements you might be taking. A side
effect or interaction with another medicine or supplement may make other health
conditions worse.
- The way dietary supplements are manufactured may not be
standardized. Because of this, how well they work or any side effects they
cause may differ among brands or even within different lots of the same brand.
The form of the supplement that you buy in health food or grocery stores may
not be the same as the form used in research.
- Other than for vitamins and minerals, the long-term effects of
most dietary supplements are not known.