Plant sterol safety

Plant sterols are recognised by international authorities as a safe way to lower cholesterol.

Detailed safety trials have shown that plant sterols are safe, and numerous international authorities have approved the Flora/Becel pro.activ range of plant sterol enriched foods as a safe way to lower cholesterol.

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  1. Amundsen Å &, Ntanios F, Put Nv N, Ose L. Long-term compliance and changes in plasma lipids, plant sterols and carotenoids in children and parents with FH consuming plant sterol ester-enriched spread. Eur J Clin Nutr 2004;58(12):1612-1620.

  2. Hendriks HF, Brink EJ, Meijer GW, Princen HM, Ntanios FY. Safety of long-term consumption of plant sterol esters-enriched spread. Eur J of Clin Nutr 2003;57(5):681-692.

  3. Weststrate JA, Ayesh R, Bauer-Plank C, Drewitt PN. Safety evaluation of phytosterol esters. Part 4. Faecal concentrations of bile acids and neutral sterols in healthy normolipidaemic volunteers consuming a controlled diet either with or without a phytosterol ester-enriched margarine. Food Chem Toxicol 1999;37:1063-1071.

  4. Ayesh R, Weststrate JA, Drewitt PN, Hepburn PA. Safety evaluation of phytosterol esters. Part 5. Faecal short-chain fatty acid and microflora content, faecal bacterial enzyme activity and serum female sex hormones in healthy normolipidaemic volunteers consuming a controlled diet either with or without a phytosterolester-enriched margarine. Food Chem Toxicol 1999;37:1127-1138.

  5. European Commission Decision 2000/500/EC, July 24, 2000.