The Plant Stanol Ester ingredient is made from Plant Stanols (Phytosterols) and vegetable oil and has significant health benefits when it comes to lowering cholesterol. It occurs naturally in certain foods, such as edible plants, seeds and grains, but the levels we get from our normal daily diet are too low to be effective for lowering cholesterol.

How does Plant Stanol Ester work, and what are the benefits of it?

Plant Stanols have a structure very similar to that of cholesterol that means they can inhibit the absorption of both dietary cholesterol and the cholesterol incorporated into bile salts by the liver. The major benefit of plant stanols is that they are poorly absorbed from the gut and are capable of significantly reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed. This ultimately leads to lower blood total and LDL cholesterol concentrations. Prior to being absorbed, cholesterol is first incorporated into a mixed micelle (the transportation vehicle for cholesterol absorption) in the upper part of the small intestine. Research findings suggest that Plant Stanols competes with cholesterol for space in the micelle and that this results in much less of the harmful cholesterol reaching the blood supply, passing unabsorbed into the large bowel. Furthermore, adding Plant Stanols into your diet can help lower total and LDL cholesterol without affecting HDL, and therefore has the benefit of lowering cholesterol.

It has been clinically proven that consuming 2g of plant stanols in your daily diet has marked benefits. After including them in your diet for 2-3 weeks, your cholesterol could be lowered up to 7-10%*.

Each bottle of Benecol yogurt drink contains 2g of plant stanol esters. You can take Benecol yogurt drinks as part of your daily diet or have it with a meal. It is also suggested to be taken alongside a balanced diet and regular exercise routine to maximize the cholesterol-lowering effect and benefit of plant stanols. To learn more about Benecol and get answers to frequently asked questions, read more here.

• • The EFSA Journal（2009）1175, 1-9. Plant Stanols and Plant Sterols and Blood LDL-Cholesterol.

Plant stanol ester has gone through extensive testing to prove its efficacy and safety. This has resulted in endorsements from many food safety authorities around the world including Europe, the US, Japan, China, Australia and Russia. Plant stanol ester has been awarded an Approved Health Claim, by the European Parliament and Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the USA. In addition, Benecol® products have been on the market since 1995 with no reports of adverse effects.

Many national health organizations now recommend that consumers include 2 g of plant stanols per day in their diets for cholesterol reduction.

British Nutrition Foundation - The evidence for the cholesterol lowering effects of Plant Stanol Esters