Reduction of Blood Cholesterol in Man

Dietary cholesterol contributes to the development and maintenance of hypercholesteremia in man. Intake of sitosterol prevents cholesterol resorption. This results in lowering of blood cholesterols to a basal endogenous level. Upon cessation of sitosterol intake hemocholesterols return to the original level. Excess supply of plant sterol was required in clinical experiments because the material used contained but 75 to 80 per cent of sitosterol and because of the large amount of endogenous cholesterol which has to be inactivated by the sitosterol, besides exogenous cholesterol.