Stanol ester
Encyclopedia
Stanol ester is a heterogeneous group of chemical compound
s known to reduce the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
in blood
when ingested, though to a much lesser degree than prescription drugs such as statin
s. The starting material is phytosterol
s from plants. These are first hydrogenated
to give a plant stanol which is then ester
ified with a mixture of fatty acid
s also derived from plants. Plant stanol esters are found naturally occurring in small quantities in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, legumes, and vegetable oils.
Stanol ester is often added to rapeseed
oil based margarine
or other foods for its health benefits. Studies have indicated that consumption of about 2 grams per day provides a reduction in LDL cholesterol of about 10%. The compound itself passes through the gut
without entering the blood
stream or lymph
. Its presence, however, reduces both the amount of cholesterol
the body absorbs from food and the reabsorption of the cholesterol component of bile
.
Stanol ester was developed by Ingmar Wester, a Finnish
chemist. It is marketed by the Raisio Group
with the trade name Benecol
.
Sterol ester
s can also be used for the same purpose. These compounds have the same effect to LDL, but they are partially absorbed by the body. The effects of higher serum plant sterol levels are so far not completely understood.
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
s known to reduce the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
in blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
when ingested, though to a much lesser degree than prescription drugs such as statin
Statin
Statins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a central role in the production of cholesterol in the liver. Increased cholesterol levels have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, and statins are therefore used in the...
s. The starting material is phytosterol
Phytosterol
Phytosterols, which encompass plant sterols and stanols, are steroid compounds similar to cholesterol which occur in plants and vary only in carbon side chains and/or presence or absence of a double bond. Stanols are saturated sterols, having no double bonds in the sterol ring structure. More than...
s from plants. These are first hydrogenated
Hydrogenation
Hydrogenation, to treat with hydrogen, also a form of chemical reduction, is a chemical reaction between molecular hydrogen and another compound or element, usually in the presence of a catalyst. The process is commonly employed to reduce or saturate organic compounds. Hydrogenation typically...
to give a plant stanol which is then ester
Ester
Esters are chemical compounds derived by reacting an oxoacid with a hydroxyl compound such as an alcohol or phenol. Esters are usually derived from an inorganic acid or organic acid in which at least one -OH group is replaced by an -O-alkyl group, and most commonly from carboxylic acids and...
ified with a mixture of fatty acid
Fatty acid
In chemistry, especially biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long unbranched aliphatic tail , which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have a chain of an even number of carbon atoms, from 4 to 28. Fatty acids are usually derived from...
s also derived from plants. Plant stanol esters are found naturally occurring in small quantities in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, legumes, and vegetable oils.
Stanol ester is often added to rapeseed
Rapeseed
Rapeseed , also known as rape, oilseed rape, rapa, rappi, rapaseed is a bright yellow flowering member of the family Brassicaceae...
oil based margarine
Margarine
Margarine , as a generic term, can indicate any of a wide range of butter substitutes, typically composed of vegetable oils. In many parts of the world, the market share of margarine and spreads has overtaken that of butter...
or other foods for its health benefits. Studies have indicated that consumption of about 2 grams per day provides a reduction in LDL cholesterol of about 10%. The compound itself passes through the gut
Gut (zoology)
In zoology, the gut, also known as the alimentary canal or alimentary tract, is a tube by which bilaterian animals transfer food to the digestion organs. In large bilaterians the gut generally also has an exit, the anus, by which the animal disposes of solid wastes...
without entering the blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
stream or lymph
Lymph
Lymph is considered a part of the interstitial fluid, the fluid which lies in the interstices of all body tissues. Interstitial fluid becomes lymph when it enters a lymph capillary...
. Its presence, however, reduces both the amount of cholesterol
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
the body absorbs from food and the reabsorption of the cholesterol component of bile
Bile
Bile or gall is a bitter-tasting, dark green to yellowish brown fluid, produced by the liver of most vertebrates, that aids the process of digestion of lipids in the small intestine. In many species, bile is stored in the gallbladder and upon eating is discharged into the duodenum...
.
Stanol ester was developed by Ingmar Wester, a Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
chemist. It is marketed by the Raisio Group
Raisio Group
Raisio Oyj, known internationally as Raisio Group , is a Finnish company that makes cereal products, animal feeds and engage in life-sciences. Raisio produces Benecol, a ingredient used in a range of Cholesterol-reducing spreads, dairy products and condiments marketed under its Benecol brand name...
with the trade name Benecol
Benecol
is a brand of cholesterol lowering food products owned by and is a trademark of Finnish company Raisio Group.Raisio Group licenses the Benecol brand and sells the effective and safe cholesterol lowering ingredient, Plant stanol ester, to food companies around the world...
.
Sterol ester
Sterol ester
Sterol esters are a heterogeneous group of chemical compounds. They are created when the hydroxyl group of a sterol and a fatty acid undergo an esterification reaction. They can be found in trace amounts in every cell type but are highly enriched in foam cells....
s can also be used for the same purpose. These compounds have the same effect to LDL, but they are partially absorbed by the body. The effects of higher serum plant sterol levels are so far not completely understood.