What is beta-sitosterol?

Phytosterols (plant sterols) are lipophilic substances in the cell membranes of plants that have a similar chemical structure to cholesterol. More than 100 different phytosterols are known, beta-sitosterol is the most common. Chemically speaking, beta-sitosterol is a plant sterol ester. It is found in fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Therapeutic Applications

prostate

Official statistics show that by the age of 60, over 60 percent of all men suffer from an enlarged prostate, and that 90% of men over the age of 85 suffer from this problem.

The fact that beta-sitosterol alleviates symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia LUTS/BPH is partly due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiandrogenic effects (beta-sitosterol inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase).

A study review from 2000 concluded that beta-sitosterol improved the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (including urine flow) but did not result in a reduction in the size of the prostate (see Table 1). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10796740/).

Several studies suggest that beta-sitosterol can improve urinary tract symptoms, including the strength of urine flow. This was also reflected in a significant improvement in the International Prostate Symptom Score, which is a measure of the severity of symptoms of prostate enlargement (see: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3798925/ , https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10792163/ , https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7540705/ , https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9313662/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10796740/).

Beta sitosterol appears to work through similar mechanisms to the prescription drug Procar by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme responsible for the production of DHT in the body (see below). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12006122/). DHT is one of the primary hormones involved in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Beta sitosterol can also reduce swelling and inflammation of the prostate, which can reduce pain and urinary urgency. Additionally, it can lead to a reduction in the amount of urine remaining in the bladder, which can contribute to a feeling of relief after urination.

Furthermore, beta sitosterol can reduce the amount of estrogen produced in the male body by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme. Since beta sitosterol acts as an estrogen receptor agonist that docks onto the estrogen receptors without producing a significant estrogen effect, it can serve as an estrogen receptor blocker that reduces the effect of the existing estrogen (see. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15113961/). This may provide relief from prostate problems, as estrogen is the second primary hormonal factor, along with DHT, that contributes to prostate enlargement.

cholesterol

One of the most common uses for beta sitosterol is to reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive tract (see: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3296732/). This can lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol.

To help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, experts recommend consuming at least 2 grams of plant sterols such as beta sitosterol in the form of healthy foods such as nuts and seeds. Studies show that beta sitosterol can lower levels of "unhealthy" LDL cholesterol without having a negative impact on levels of "healthy" HDL cholesterol (see. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/01.CIR.10.2.201).

antioxidant

Beta sitosterol has antioxidant properties that can protect the body's cells from oxidative damage. One study showed that beta sitosterol can reduce the oxidative damage associated with diabetes by increasing antioxidant levels in the pancreas (see. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49669785_Antidiabetic_and_antioxidant_potential_of_b-sitosterol_in_Streptozotocin-induced_experimental_hyperglycemia).

blood sugar

Beta sitosterol has shown positive results in studies when it comes to stimulating insulin secretion and reducing blood sugar levels (see: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339638999_Effect_of_b-sitosterol_on_glucose_homeostasis_by_sensitization_of_insulin_resistance_via_enhanced_protein_expression_of_PPRg_and_glucose_transporter_4_in_high_fat_diet_and_streptozotocin-induced_diabe).

In addition, it was able to reduce the levels of glycated hemoglobin, which is a measure of the damage caused by permanently elevated blood sugar levels (see: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49669785_Antidiabetic_and_antioxidant_potential_of_b-sitosterol_in_Streptozotocin-induced_experimental_hyperglycemia).

Cancer

Studies suggest that beta-sitosterol may be able to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells and inhibit the growth of colon cancer and breast cancer cells (see below). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17266177/).

The combination of beta-sitosterol and gemcitabine has synergistic activity against pancreatic cancer based on preclinical studies.

In addition to a benign enlargement of the prostate, beta-sitosterol could also reduce the risk of prostate cancer and inhibit prostate cancer growth. A study with prostate cancer cells of the LNCaP cell line (an androgen-dependent tumor) showed that beta-sitosterol reduced the growth of cancer cells by 24% and quadrupled induced apoptosis. This was accompanied by an increase in ceramide production by 50% (see. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9824850/).

Scientific studies suggest that ceramide induces apoptosis (see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15796189/). In another study, beta sitosterol was able to reduce the growth of androgen-dependent human prostate cancer cells by 70% compared to a placebo (see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11916349/).

skin & hair

Beta-sitosterol can inhibit androgenic alopecia in combination with saw palmetto extract. It has a hormone-like structure and can also reduce unwanted effects of the male hormone such as oily skin, acne, or increased body hair.

dosage

The following dosages have been studied in scientific studies:

• For benign prostatic hyperplasia: 60 to 130 mg beta-sitosterol per day divided into 2-3 doses.
• Dosage recommendations to lower LDL cholesterol levels are at least 200 mg or more per day.

Safety and Interactions

Supplementation with beta-sitosterol in the dose specified in the application recommendations is safe and generally well tolerated. (Mild) gastrointestinal complaints sometimes occur. The permitted daily dose is set at approximately 40 mg per kg body weight per day.

· Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Not enough is known about the use of beta-sitosterol during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid beta-sitosterol.

· Sitosterolemia (a rare inherited fat storage disorder): People suffering from this condition have too much beta-sitosterol and related fats in their bodies. They are more prone to early-onset heart disease. Taking beta-sitosterol worsens this condition, which is why people suffering from sitosterolemia should not take beta-sitosterol.

· Beta-sitosterol has a cholesterol-lowering effect. People who take cholesterol-lowering medication should take this into account and discuss the dosage with their doctor.

Sources

· Gupta E. β-Sitosterol: predominant phytosterol of therapeutic potential. Innovations in Food Technology. 2020:465-477.

· Bin Sayeed MS et al. Critical analysis on characterization, systemic effect, and therapeutic potential of beta-sitosterol: a plant-derived orphan phytosterol. Medicines (Basel). 2016;3(4):29.

· Sudeep HV et al. A double blind, placebo-controlled randomized comparative study on the efficacy of phytosterol-enriched and conventional saw palmetto oil in mitigating benign prostate hyperplasia and androgen deficiency. BMC Urol. 2020;20(1):86.

· Wilt TJ et al. Beta-sitosterol for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review. BJU International 1999;83:976-83.

· Wilt T et al. Beta-sitosterols for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(2):CD001043.

· by Holtz RL et al. Beta-sitosterol activates the sphingomyelin cycle and induces apoptosis in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. Nutr Cancer. 1998;32(1):8-12.

· Prager N et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. J Altern Complement Med. 2002;8(2):143-52.

· Chen S et al. Serum cholesterol-lowering activity of beta-sitosterol laurate is attributed to the reduction of both cholesterol absorption and bile acids reabsorption in hamsters. J Agric Food Chem. 2020;68(37):10003-10014.

· Tovey FI et al.Dietary phytosterols protect against peptic ulceration. Gastroenterology Res. 2011;4(4):149-156.

· Tovey FI. Role of dietary phospholipids and phytosterols in protection against peptic ulceration as shown by experiments on rats. World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(5):1377-84.

· Sun Y et al. Beta-sitosterol alleviates inflammatory response via inhibiting the activation of ERK/p38 and NF-kappaB pathways in LPS-exposed BV2 cells. Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:7532306.

· Liu R et al. Beta-sitosterol modulates macrophage polarization and attenuates rheumatoid inflammation in mice. Pharm Biol. 2019;57(1):161-168.

· Babu S et al. An update on β-sitosterol: a potential herbal nutraceutical for diabetic management. Biomed Pharmacother. 2020;131:110702.

· Lin F et al. Beta-sitosterol protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury via targeting PPARgamma/NF-kappaB signaling. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:2679409.

· Panayotis N et al. Beta-sitosterol reduces anxiety and synergizes with established anxiolytic drugs in mice. Cell Rep Med 2021;2(5):100281.

· Ayaz M et al. Anti-Alzheimer's studies on beta-sitosterol isolated from Polygonum hydropiper L. Front Pharmacol. 2017;8:697.

· Alvarez-Sala A et al. Apoptotic effect of a phytosterol-ingredient and its main phytosterol (beta-sitosterol) in human cancer cell lines. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2019;70(3):323-334.

· Chen Z et al. Beta-sitosterol attenuates liver injury in a rat model of chronic alcohol intake. Arch Pharm Res. 2020;43(11):1197-1206.

Cao ZQ et al. Beta-sitosterol and gemcitabine exhibit synergistic anti-pancreatic cancer activity by modulating apoptosis and inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition by deactivating Akt/GSK-3beta signaling. Front Pharmacol. 2019;9:1525.