Plant stanols and plant sterols, together called phytosterols, are clinically proven to lower cholesterol when about 2 g/day is used. They occur naturally in plant based foods, but only in small concentration. Some sources of plant stanols and plant sterols are presented in these slides.

1. Natural sources of plant stanols and
plant sterols

2. Natural sources of plant stanols and plant sterols
Phytosterols, including plant stanols and plant sterols, are structural components of plant
cells
Plant stanols and plant sterols are naturally present in plant based foods
The most common dietary sources of plant stanols and sterols are vegetable oils like
rapeseed oil and sunflower oil and cereals like wheat and rye1-5
The easiest way to have an effective cholesterol-lowering dose is to use products with added
plant stanol ester6 like Benecol® foods or food supplements
1. Piironen V, Toivo J, Lampi A. Natural sources of dietary plant sterols. J Food Compos Anal 2000; 13: 619–624.
2. Piironen V, Toivo J, Lampi AM. Plant sterols in cereals and cereal products. Cereal Chem 2002; 79 (1): 148–154.
3. Normen L, Bryngelsson S, Johnsson M et al. The phytosterol content of some cereal foods commonly consumed in Sweden and in Netherlands. Journal of Food Composition
and Analysis 2002; 15: 693-704.
4. Normen L, Ellgard L, Brants H, Dutta P, Andersson H. A phytosterol database: Fatty foods consumed in Sweden and the Netherlands. Journal of Food Composition and
Analysis 2007; 20: 193-201.
5. Normen L, Johnsson M, Andersson H, van Gamerson Y, Dutta P. Plant sterols in vegetables and fruits commonly consumed in Sweden. Eur J Nutr 1999;38(2):84-89.
6. Rosin S, Ojansivu I, Kopu A, Keto-Tokoi M, Gylling H. Optimal Use of Plant Stanol Ester in the Management of Hypercholesterolemia. Cholesterol. 2015; 2015: 706970.
2

3. Sources of plant stanols and plant sterols
(i.e. phytosterols)1-5,7
Food Phytosterols mg/100g Amount needed to get 2 g of phytosterols (the
recommended daily dose for effective cholesterol
reduction)
Sunflower oil 436 460 g
Olive oil 177 1.1 kg
Rapeseed oil 773 260 g
Vegetable oil based margarine 200 1 kg
Benecol® margarine 5300 37 g
Bran flakes 65 3 kg
Almonds 208 960 g
Peanuts 116 1.7 kg
Broccoli 39 5.1 kg
Benecol® yogurt drink 3000 67,5 mL = one bottle
Avocado 113 1.8 kg
Oranges 24 8.3 kg
1. Piironen V, Toivo J, Lampi A. Natural sources of dietary plant sterols. J Food Compos Anal 2000; 13: 619–624. 2. Piironen V, Toivo J, Lampi AM. Plant sterols in cereals and cereal products. Cereal Chem 2002; 79 (1): 148–154. 3. Normen L, Bryngelsson S, Johnsson M et al. The phytosterol
content of some cereal foods commonly consumed in Sweden and in Netherlands. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 2002; 15: 693-704. 4. Normen L, Ellgard L, Brants H, Dutta P, Andersson H. A phytosterol database: Fatty foods consumed in Sweden and the Netherlands. Journal of
Food Composition and Analysis 2007; 20: 193-201. 5. Normen L, Johnsson M, Andersson H, van Gamerson Y, Dutta P. Plant sterols in vegetables and fruits commonly consumed in Sweden. Eur J Nutr 1999;38(2):84-89. 7. http://www.benecol.co.uk/our-products accessed 07/2017