"Phytosterols, which encompass plant sterols and stanols, are steroid compounds similar
to cholesterol which occur in plants and vary only in carbon side chains and/or presence or absence of a double bond. Stanols are saturated sterols, having no double bonds in the sterol ring structure. More than 200 sterols and related compounds have been identified.[1] Free phytosterols extracted from oils are insoluble in water, relatively insoluble in oil, and soluble in alcohols."
"Phytosterol-enriched foods and dietary supplements have been marketed for decades. Despite well documented cholesterol-lowering effect, no evidence of any beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD) or overall mortality exists."
"The richest naturally occurring sources of phytosterols are vegetable oils and products made from them. Nuts, which are rich in phytosterols, are often eaten in smaller amounts, but can still significantly contribute to total phytosterol intake. Cereal products, vegetables, fruit and berries, which are not as rich in phytosterols, may also be significant sources of phytosterols due to their higher intakes.[3] The intake of naturally occurring phytosterols ranges between ~150–450 mg/day[4] depending on eating habits."