What is plant stanol ester?

Plant stanol containing Benecol® products have been developed for people who wish to reduce their serum cholesterol levels through diet. Plant stanol ester is a patented ingredient of Raisio, Ingredients Division for lowering cholesterol, and the active ingredient of Benecol products. The first Benecol product was a stanol ester-enriched margarine and was launched in Finland in November 1995. Today, Raisio markets plant stanol ester ingredient internationally to food companies all over the world.

Small amounts of plant stanols occur naturally in many foodstuffs. When added to foods, they lower serum levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by inhibiting the absorption of dietary cholesterol and the re-absorption of biliary cholesterol in the human intestine.

The use of foods containing plant sterols and stanols provide a novel approach to lowering plasma LDL by dietary means. Known since the early 1950s, they are structurally analogous to cholesterol. Functional foods containing plant stanols have the potential of becoming the basis of cholesterol management for all individuals at risk.