title: [Therapeutic effects of phytosterols and phytostanols in cholesterolemia].
abstract: Plant sterol and stanol esters are called "functional" compounds due to their hypocholesterolemic properties. The objective of this review is to update recent findings concerning the effect of phytosterols in the blood cholesterol, emphasizing the results from experimental and human studies. The hypocholesterolemic effect is observed with the intake of 2.5g/day of phytosterols or phytostanols. Daily intake, usually of stanols, for 4 weeks has shown to to be effective in lowering blood total- as well as LDL-cholesterol by about 10%. The mechanism of action in lowering blood cholesterol comes from their structural similarity to cholesterol, hence they act by competing with cholesterol at the luminal absorption site. The adverse effects of a high intake of phytosterols and phytostanols are the lower absorption of some liposoluble vitamins and antioxidants.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrição, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília-DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Silvia L C
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Heliênia F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Maria Rita Carvalho Garbi
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Novaes
authors.forename: Marina Kiyomi
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013265:Stigmasterol / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D010840:Phytosterols; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012855:Sitosterols; D013265:Stigmasterol