Beta-Sitosterol 160mg | 60 capsules | Swanson

Beta-Sitosterol from Swanson

Plant sterols are substances that occur naturally in plants and are structurally similar to cholesterol. Swanson's beta-sitosterol provides 160 mg per capsule, extracted from a broad plant sterol complex. This product is intended for those who want to supplement with these plant sterols separately, with two capsules per day.

What beta-sitosterol is

Beta-sitosterol is the best-known of the plant sterols, also known as phytosterols. It is a fatty substance found mainly in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and grains. The structure of beta-sitosterol closely resembles that of cholesterol; the difference lies in a small side chain on the molecule. In addition to beta-sitosterol, this complex also contains campesterol and stigmasterol, two related plant sterols. Together, they form what manufacturers call a broad phytosterol profile. In plants, plant sterols fulfill approximately the same role that cholesterol has in animals: they are part of the cell walls and are fat-soluble. Beta-sitosterol is the most common of all sterols in many crops, which explains why this particular substance is often mentioned as the main component. The names campesterol and stigmasterol refer to the plants in which they were first described.

From a plant sterol complex

The beta-sitosterol in this product is not provided as a single substance, but as part of a plant sterol complex. Each capsule contains 160 mg of beta-sitosterol, and with the recommended two capsules per day, you get 320 mg. The complex is derived from plant sources, with soy as a raw material. Therefore, this product contains soy as an allergen, something to be aware of if you are sensitive to it. The capsule itself is made of gelatin, so this bottle is not plant-based. Combining several sterols in a complex reflects how these substances also occur together in plants, rather than as a single isolated compound. Each capsule consistently provides the same amount, so you know how much you are supplementing.

Plant sterols and your diet

What many people do not know is that you already get small amounts of plant sterols every day through regular food, especially from vegetable oils and whole-grain products. The amounts in an average diet are limited. A separate supplement provides you with a fixed amount per capsule, so you know how much you are supplementing. Over the years, beta-sitosterol has become a well-known choice in the supplement industry, often in combination with other plant-based substances. For most people, the daily intake from food amounts to a few hundred milligrams, depending heavily on how many vegetable oils, nuts, and whole-grain products are on the menu. A supplement brings that intake back to a fixed amount per capsule.

How to take beta-sitosterol

Swanson recommends two capsules per day with food and water. Taking it with a meal is obvious, because plant sterols are fatty substances. With 60 capsules per bottle, you have a supply for about one month when taking two per day. By taking the capsules at two different meals, you spread the intake throughout the day. In short: beta-sitosterol is the best-known plant sterol, which can be supplemented separately from a broad complex containing campesterol and stigmasterol, in a fixed amount per capsule.