Stigmastanol
Encyclopedia
Stigmastanol is a phytosterol
found in a variety of plant sources. Similar to sterol ester
s and stanol ester
s, stigmasterol inhibits the absorption of cholesterol
from the diet. Animal studies suggest that it also inhibits biosynthesis of cholesterol in the liver.
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...
found in a variety of plant sources. Similar to 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 and stanol ester
Stanol ester
Stanol ester is a heterogeneous group of chemical compounds known to reduce the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in blood when ingested, though to a much lesser degree than prescription drugs such as statins. The starting material is phytosterols from plants...
s, stigmasterol inhibits the absorption 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...
from the diet. Animal studies suggest that it also inhibits biosynthesis of cholesterol in the liver.