Phytosterols are a type of substance used by plants as a building block for cells. There are a variety of types of phytosterols, including beta-sitosterol, which herbalists recommend for the treatment of several medical conditions.

Function

Herbalists credit beta-sitosterol with reducing how much cholesterol is able to enter your body and reducing inflammation, RxList reports.

Uses

Reported uses of beta-sitosterol include treating benign prostatic hyperlasia or an enlarged prostate, high cholesterol, tuberculosis, gallstones, burns, prostate infections, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis and asthma.

Cholesterol

A 2010 study at the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences in Wenchang, China, and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that mice treated with beta-sitosterol experienced drops in cholesterol levels, while mice without the treatment did not.

Prostate Health

A 2000 study at the Department of Veterans Affairs Coordinating in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that men suffering from an enlarged prostate treated with beta-sitosterol experienced a decrease in urinary difficulty, suggesting that the phytosterol reduced inflammation of the prostate gland.

Expert Insight

The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University reports that early evidence indicates that beta-sitosterol may be effective for lowering cholesterol or treating prostate enlargement, but that long-term research studies using humans are required to investigate its benefits.

Source:

RxList: Beta-Sitosterol Effectiveness, Safety and Drug Interactions

PubMed: Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis of Conjugated Linoleyl Beta-Sitostero

Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Phytosterols

More Information:

Pubmed.gov: Beta-sitosterols for benign prostatic hyperplasia