Beta Sitosterol Information

Beta-sitosterols are substances in plants that help form the membrane or layer within cells that substances such as nutrients and water pass through, enabling the plant to make energy. In herbal medicine, beta-sitosterols are used for a variety of purposes.

Sources

• Foods that are high in beta-sitosterol include soybeans, wheat germ, rice bran and corn oil, reports Dr. Michael Lam. Beta-sitosterols are also available in dietary supplements.

Function

• Beta-sitosterols limit the amount of cholesterol that is able to enter your body and also reduce inflammation, reports RxList.

Uses

• Because of their effects, supplements that contain beta sitosterols are used to treat high cholesterol, which increases your risk of heart disease, prostate enlargement, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, fibromyalgia, asthma and lupus. Herbal medicine practitioners also use beta-sitosterols to prevent some types of cancer, such as those that affect the cervix or colon, reports RxList.

Risks

• The most common side effects of beta-sitosterols include fullness, gas, indigestion, diarrhea and constipation, reports the Physicians' Desktop Reference. There are some reports that beta-sitosterol causes impotence or loss of libido, according to RxList.

Considerations

• If you are pregnant or nursing, you should not take beta-sitosterol supplements because their effects upon fetal development are unknown. If you have a fat storage disease known as sitosterolemia, it is not safe for you to take beta-sitosterol, warns RxList.