Plant sterols, also known as phytosterols, are natural compounds found in small amounts in many plant foods, including nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, wholegrains, fruit and vegetables. They have a similar structure to cholesterol, and they are one of the few ingredients with an authorised health claim relating to cholesterol: plant sterols contribute to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels. The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of at least 0.8g of plant sterols. Because a typical diet provides only a fraction of this amount, many people choose a plant sterol supplement to complement a healthy, balanced diet low in saturated fat.
