Side Effects of Plant Sterols

In various fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, plant sterols form building blocks for the protective, outer layer of their cells. Herbalists extract waxy plant sterols and use them to make medicine for such conditions as high cholesterol, prostate enlargement and infections, arthritis and psoriasis.

Time Frame

• When taken as a supplement or in foods, plant sterols are generally safe for continuous use for up to one year, reports Oregon State University.

Side Effects

• Possible side effects of plant sterols include nausea, indigestion, diarrhea and constipation, according to Oregon State University. These side effects are generally mild and pose no risk for long-term health complications.

Drug Interactions

• Using plant sterols medicinally with statin medications for cholesterol such as pravastatin or rosuvastatin is equivalent to doubling your dosage of the cholesterol medication, reports the University of Oregon.

Risks

• If you suffer from a rare disorder known as sitosterolemia, you should not use plant sterols medicinally. Doing so could contribute to atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries due to the way in which your body processes fat-like substances, warns the University of Oregon.

Considerations

• During pregnancy, cholesterol plays an important role in building fetal cells. Because plant sterols may lower cholesterol levels, pregnant women should not take supplements that contain sterols.