Plant sterols, sometimes called phytosterols, are found naturally in some vegetables and trees.
Plant sterols are similar to cholesterol and when part of the diet, they compete with cholesterol to be absorbed by the intestine. Since plant sterols are not processed by the body, they are returned to the intestine. The net result is that less cholesterol is absorbed.
It has been proven in more than 100 clinical studies that consuming some food with added plant sterols daily can lower LDL cholesterol levels.
Due to their cholesterol-reducing properties, plant sterols have been approved for use in some food applications in different parts of the world. They have been used commonly in foods such as spreads, bread, milk, yogurt, and other products in recent years.
Arboris is the world's leading producer of naturally occurring - not genetically modified - sterols which are used primarily in heart-healthy food products.