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OUR PHYTOSTEROLS
þGuaranteed Purity þBalances the immune system þExtra Strength þResearch þClinically demonstrated effectiveness þPharmaceutical Manufacturing License þGood Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Plant sterols, also known as phytosterols, were chemically
described in 1922. Their ability to
control cholesterol plasma levels in hypercholesterolemic patients was first
described in 1983 when the structure of phytosterols implied that they could,
by steric hindrance, inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from our diets. Research over the last 15
years indicates phytosterols and sterolins have important anti-inflammatory,
anti-viral, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer and immune T-cell
proliferative activities. Medical uses already include the treatment of
hyper-cholesterolemia, benign prostatic hypertrophy and rheumatoid
arthritis. It has also shown to be
beneficial for allergies, viruses, fibromyalgia, BPH, lupus, TB, psoriasis,
some forms of tumors and can protect bone marrow from chemotherapy. Phytosterols may also have a beneficial
effect on hormone metabolism in general.
(Journal of
Complementary Medicine, article by Nancy Beckham, 02/02/96) In nature, plants never contain many different types of sterols. The sterol content in many plants are thought to be one of the major chemical compounds contributing to the health benefits of a variety of medicinal herbs such as Saw Palmetto, Pygeum, Pumpkin seeds, Devil’s Claw, Milk Thistle, Ginkgo Biloba, Panax and Siberian Ginseng. Unlike immune stimulants such as echinacea, phytosterol/sterolin supplements balance the immune system. They boost an underactive response and moderate an overactive one. Unlike other immune stimulants, they would also be indicated for autoimmune conditions. Phytosterols maintain the proper balance between Th 1 and Th 2 T helper cells for a properly functioning immune system. Th 1 cells control the Th 2 activity responsible for the release of interleukins (IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10), which enhance the activity of B-cells. A deficiency of Th 1 immune chemicals (lymphokines, IL-2, IL-12, and gamma interferon) would allow the Th 2 cells to over-activate B cells or antibodies leading to an autoimmune reaction. This leading to such conditions as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis and many others including many allergies and asthma. Research There have been many papers published between 1966 and the present demonstrating the positive benefits of beta-sitosterol (BSS, a major constituent of phytosterols) and its glucoside beta-sitosterolin (BSSG) on the immune system. A brief review of the results is described. Research has
shown the phytosterols and sterolins can help block excess cholesterol
absorption. Phytosterols
lower serum cholesterol by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the
small intestine. The principal mechanism of action is thought to be competition
between cholesterol and the phytosterols for micellar solubilization. (Heinemann et
al.,1991; Lees et al., 1977) For rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the mixture of BSS and BSSG has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities in vitro, inhibiting the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-alpha from activated monocytes. Both factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of RA. In one study, statistically significant reductions in joint tenderness and pain were found. The BSS:BSSG mixture was well tolerated and no serious adverse events were recorded. (Ingrid Louw, et al, University of Stellenbosch) Other autoimmune disorders that may benefit from phytosterols include Addison’s disease, Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, Type I Diabetes, Grave’s Disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Lupus, Myasthenia Gravis, Polymyalgia rheumatica, Scleroderma, and Sjogren’s syndrome. For benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), studies
indicate that BSS improved both subjective symptoms of BPH and the objective
measurement of improved urine flow with only minor side effects. This study indicates that traditional herbal
treatment of BPH with saw palmetto, Pygeum africanus and pumpkin seeds
may be attributable to the phytosterol content of these herbs. (Berges, R.Ret al. Randomized,
placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of B-sitosterol in patients
with benign prostatic hyperplasia: Lancet, vol. 345, no. 8964, pp. 1529-32,
June 1995) In a study on pulmonary
tuberculosis over a 6 months period, subjects using a phytosterol/sterolin
mixture showed a significant weight gain over the placebo group and showed a
significant increase in lymphocytes and eosinophils. Phytosterols/sterolins
have been demonstrated elsewhere to selectively increase CD4 lymphocyte counts
and studies indicate a relationship between the rise of CD4 lymphocytes and
eosinophils. (Donald, P.R.; et
al. A randomized
placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy of beta-sitosterol and its glucoside
as adjuvants in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis: International Journal
of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, vol. 1 (5), pp. 518-522, July 1997) A study was done with HIV positive subjects over a 3-year period, with clinical monitoring every 3 months. CD4 lymphocyte counts remained stable over 27 months with no significant declines. As well, the programmed cell death of the CD4 subset, which is responsible for the rapid loss of CD4 lymphocytes in typical HIV populations, actually declined slightly. This study also showed a significant decrease in IL-6 levels in the phytosterol/sterolin treated group leading to a decrease in viral load levels. These findings suggest an important role for phytosterols/sterolins in the multi-stage treatment of HIV. (Bouic, P.J.D.., Immunomodulation in HIV/AIDS: The Tygerberg/Stellenbosch university experience. AIDS Bulletin, vol. 6, #3, pp. 18-20, Sept. 1997) A number of studies have
indicated phytosterols in the treatment of stress and inflammation. Studies have shown that taking a
phytosterol/sterolin mixture prior to a highly stressful physical event
protects against immunosuppression and excessive inflammation associated with
high physical stress. It seems to inhibit
the excessive release of cortisol and its immunosuppressive effects and lowers
the cortisol/DHEA ratio, indicating a more adaptive response to stress. These
adaptogenic properties indicate phytosterols/sterolins for the prevention and
treatment of a wide range of stress-mediated disorders, as well as immune
dysregulation and inflammatory diseases.
(Bouic,
P.J.D.; et al. The
effects of B-sitosterol (BSS) and B-sitosterol glucoside (BSSG) mixture on
selected immune parameters of marathon runner: Inhibition of post marathon
immune suppression and inflammation. International
Journal of Sports Medicine) Subjects
suffering from fibromyalgia, cancer and
osteoporosis have also
benefited from the use of phytosterols.
By mediating the effects of Th 2 and in turn lessening the secretion of
IL-1 and IL-6, phytosterol/sterolins can inhibit the following conditions that
IL-1 and in particular IL-6 are associated with. IL-6 is thought to worsen the symptoms of autoimmune diseases and
fibromyalgia and has been found to act as a growth factor in several tumors.
Some viruses also use IL-6 to replicate. IL-6 also causes calcium to be
released from bone, promoting osteoporosis. Controlling the release of these
cytokines enhances immunity and reduces degenerative diseases.
Epidemiological studies have also suggested that increased dietary
phytosterol intake may reduce the risk in humans of colon cancer (Hirai et al., 1986; Nair et al., 1984;
Raicht et al, 1980). Patients with a number of immune dysfunctions including chronic fatigue syndrome, MS and diabetes have also responded well. Anecdotal reports as well as some on-going studies indicate phytosterols/sterolins also benefit those suffering from allergies, viruses, lupus, TB, psoriasis, and some tumors. Plant fats may protect bone marrow that may be damaged by chemotherapy. Sterolins are precursors to pregnenolone and then DHEA. It is believed that supplementation with phytosterols and sterolins may increase DHEA levels over the longer term. (Journal of Complementary Medicine, article by Nancy Beckham, 02/02/96) Research on cancer has shown that phytosterols and
sterolins may block the development of tumors in colon, breast and prostate
glands by altering cell membrane transfer in tumor growth. Studies indicate after 5 days, breast cancer
cell cultures supplemented with BSS had 66% fewer breast cancer cells than
controls. Another study showed a 28% inhibition of prostate-cancer cell growth
after being exposed to BSS for five days in vitro. (Press Release: University at Buffalo Press,
State University of New York, 4/29/99 (breast) and 10/25/98 (prostate)). In an animal study, results
indicate that BSS and BSSG increased fasting insulin levels and lowered fasting
glucose levels. The phytosterols and sterolins protected the animal from an
excessive rise in serum glucose levels due to glucose loading. The anti-hyperglycemic effect of the
phytosterols and sterolins are thought to be due to an increase in circulating
insulin levels which is attributable to a stimulation of insulin secretion from
pancreatic B-cells. These results indicate a possible anti-hyperglycemic use
for the phytosterols in the prevention and treatment of pre-diabetic and
diabetic conditions. (Ivorra, M.D., et al. Antihyperglycemic and Insulin-Releasing Effects of
B-Sitosterol 3-B-D-Glucoside and Its Aglycone, B-Sitosterol. Archives of the
International Pharmacodyn, v. 296, pp. 224-231, April 1988) Our
Product Phyto-Immun
has a full 80 mg of phytosterols and 1 mg of sterolin with each constituent
carefully preserved. The phytosterols
are sourced from non-GMO soy and the sterolins, sourced from pine bark, are
added separately to preserve their integrity.
The manufacturer is pharmaceutically licensed and has GMP certification. Other
References 1.
Bouic, P.J.D.; Etsebeth, S.; Liebenberg, R.W.; Albrecht, C.F.; Pegel, K.; Van
Jaarsveld, P.P. Beta-sitosterol and beta-sitosterol glucoside stimulate human
peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation: Implications for their use as an
immunomodulatory vitamin combination.
International Journal of Immunopharmacology, vol. 18, no. 12, pp.
693-700, Dec. 1996 2. Bouic,P.J.D. Sterols/Sterolins, the
natural, nontoxic immunomodulators and their role in the control of rheumatoid
arthritis. Published in the newsletter
of the Arthritis Trust of America, Summer, 1998. 3.
Bouic PJ. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, South
Africa. The role of phytosterols and
phytosterolins in immune modulation: a review of the past 10 years. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2001
Nov;4(6):471-5 4. Clerici, M;. Bevilacqua M;. Vago T; Villa M.L;.
Shearer G.M and.
Norbiato G. Lancet, vol. 343, pp. 1552-1553, June
18, 1994 5.
Donald, P.R.; J.H. Lamprecht; M. Freestone; C.F.Albrecht; P.J.D. Bouic; D.
Kotze; P.P. van Jaarsveld, A randomized placebo-controlled trial of the
efficacy of beta-sitosterol and its glucoside as adjuvants in the treatment of
pulmonary tuberculosis: International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease,
vol. 1 (5), pp. 518-522, July 1997 6.
Dreher, Henry: The Immune Power Personality, Penguin Books USA Inc., New York,
1995. 7.
Nutritional Counseling: Anatomy and Physiology, American Health Science
University, Independent publication, 1998. 8.
O'Garra, Anne. Interleukins and the immune system. Lancet, vol. 1, #8644, pp. 943-946, 1989 10. Pegel, Karl H, Department of Chemistry and
Applied Chemistry, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa. South African
Journal of Science, vol. 93, pp. 263-268, June 1997 11. Thibodeau/Patton: The Human Body in Health and
Disease, Mosby Publishing, 1997. |