Soy phytosterols are a special class of natural active substances. It has many physiological functions, especially the effect of lowering cholesterol is particularly obvious. Therefore, Soybean Oil Powder, which inhibits cholesterol absorption and affects cholesterol metabolism, has great practical value, commercial prospects, and rich economic benefits.
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What Is Soybean Phytosterol?
Soy phytosterols are plant sterols. Its basic core structure is a heterocyclic compound formed by three 6-carbon rings (different from the benzene ring) and one 5-carbon ring. It combines with proteins to form lipoproteins, which constitute various membranes of cells such as cell membrane, nuclear membrane, mitochondrial membrane, endoplasmic reticulum membrane, etc. It is very similar in structure to cholesterol, the only difference being the structure in the branched chain. Soybean phytosterols are mainly β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol and so on.
Do Phytosterols Lower Cholesterol?
There are two mechanisms for phytosterols to lower serum cholesterol: one mechanism is to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the intestinal tract; the other is to affect the metabolism of cholesterol.
In 1953, it was first reported that phytosterols (soy phytosterols) could lower serum cholesterol in humans. In the United States, various phytosterols have been approved as generally recognized as safe foods. The health notice issued by the US FDA states: Phytosterol and esters can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels.
Soybean phytosterols can reduce blood lipids and CHOL in eggs. Daily intake of 1.3g from the diet can significantly reduce cholesterol. It doesn't have any side effects. It is ideal for lowering cholesterol. The disadvantage is that the absorption rate of plant sterols in the diet is low.
How Much Can Phytosterols Be Absorbed?
Compared with the absorption rate of cholesterol (about 40%), the absorption rate of phytosterols in normal healthy people is less than 5%. The same is a sterol compound, soy plant sterols have such a large difference in absorption for the following three reasons:
1. The solubility of phytosterols in micromicelles is not good;
2. Some extrinsic factors such as phospholipids can increase the absorption of cholesterol;
3. Insufficient degree of esterification of phytosterols in micromicelles, etc.
In addition to being less absorbed in the gut than cholesterol, it is also metabolized faster in the blood circulation than cholesterol. Its concentration in the blood is lower than that of cholesterol.
Summary
A large number of clinical medical research reports show that a 10% reduction in blood cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart disease by 50% at the age of 50, and up to 20% at the age of 70. The daily intake of phytosterols needs to be about 4~6 times the daily dietary cholesterol intake to inhibit cholesterol absorption. And to achieve a better cholesterol-inhibiting effect, it is best combined with meals.