Plant-derived cholesterol-like sterol
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About Beta-Sitosterol
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About Beta-Sitosterol
Overview and History
Beta-Sitosterol is a phytosterol — a plant sterol chemically related to cholesterol. It is abundant in many plant foods and is absorbed in small amounts through the gut, then transported in the bloodstream by lipoproteins. Laboratory assays typically measure circulating levels using mass spectrometry or chromatography as part of a sterol panel.
Clinically and historically, phytosterols have been studied to understand intestinal cholesterol absorption and the balance between absorption and hepatic cholesterol synthesis. Because beta-sitosterol shares structural features with cholesterol, its presence in blood offers a window into sterol trafficking, intestinal transport processes, and how lipoproteins carry non-cholesterol sterols in the body.
Interpreting Highs and Lows
Elevated beta-sitosterol levels may reflect relatively greater intestinal absorption of plant sterols or reduced clearance from the circulation. Such elevations can be associated with genetic differences in sterol transport or with high intake of plant sterols; they signal altered sterol trafficking that can affect overall lipid patterns. Low beta-sitosterol levels may indicate lower dietary intake, reduced intestinal absorption, or shifts toward greater endogenous cholesterol synthesis. In all cases, interpretation is most informative when combined with the full Cardio Zoomer panel (lipoproteins, sterol ratios, synthesis markers, and clinical context).
Featured Test
Cardio Zoomer includes beta-sitosterol to help distinguish whether a person’s cholesterol burden is influenced more by intestinal absorption or by internal synthesis and clearance. As part of the sterol and lipid cluster, this marker refines understanding of lipid handling, complements genetic and lipoprotein data, and supports a more personalized assessment of cardiovascular risk contributors.
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Mary Beth Augustine
DCN, RDN, FAND- Lead Clinical Educator
Suzanne Barker
MS, RDN, LD, CTTS, CGP- Clinical Educator
Suzette Garcia
MSc- MHNE- Clinical Educator
Brooke Mader Ganev
MS, CNS, LDN, FDN- Clinical Educator
Adair Anderson
MS, RDN, LDN- Clinical Educator
Lillie Luu Nguyen
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jason Barker
ND- Clinical Educator
Emaline Brown
ND- Clinical Educator
Dana Filatova
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jessy Dhanjal
ND- Clinical Educator
Nour Amri
MS, LDN, CNS, CKNS- Clinical Educator
