Ortho Molecular Products: Plant Sterols

First introduced as a food additive that prevented absorption of cholesterol, plant sterols/stanols are now approved by the FDA for a heart-health claim: “Products containing at least 0.65 g per serving of plant sterol esters, taken twice daily with meals for a daily total intake of at least 1.3 g, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.” The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of Health suggests the use of plant sterols in conjunction with other lifestyle changes to enhance LDL cholesterol reduction. Numerous clinical trials have been performed with phytosterols and they have proven to be both safe and effective in a wide group of individuals.