As cholesterol and its bad reputation for heart disease remain in the spotlight, the variety of cholesterol-lowering medications or methods is likely to continue to increase. Today, the only drug group that has been shown to consistently lower bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) and thus reduce deaths (or even all deaths) from heart diseases are drugs called statins. It has been understood from some unfortunate drug trials that the idea of lowering cholesterol at all costs does not work very well. For this reason, it is necessary to always consider the price we will pay and our gains when lowering our cholesterol.
Phytosterols ("phytosterols") are molecules found in small amounts in many plants in nature, their molecular structure is somewhat similar to cholesterol, but their properties are completely different. These sterols have been shown to reduce cholesterol absorption from the intestine. The idea of adding it to foods to benefit from these effects has become increasingly accepted and widespread in recent years. Studies have shown that plant sterols taken between 1-2 grams per day reduce blood cholesterol levels by 10-15%. It has been confirmed by Western health authorities that plant sterols taken at this dose do not pose any other safety risks to health. For this reason, in the world and in our country, some dairy products are fortified with plant sterols and are thus positioned differently in the market. It should not be forgotten that the cholesterol reduction achieved is far from the targeted cholesterol reduction in heart patients. However, consuming these products also helps lower cholesterol without introducing additional safety risks.
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