How do oxyphytosterols affect human health?

Publication date: Available online 26 July 2018Source: Trends in Food Science & TechnologyAuthor(s): Baiyi LuAbstractOxyphytosterols are similar to oxycholesterols in structure, and they exhibit pro-atherogenic properties. Recently, more interests were focused on the metabolism of oxyphytosterols for their increasing intake from phytosterol-enriched food. In this review, we discussed the origin, absorption, distribution, and transport of oxyphytosterols in vivo and their biological effects in humans. The two dominant oxyphytosterols in human plasma are 7-keto-sitosterol and 7-keto-campesterol, but their origins are unclear. It is suggested that oxysitosterols are formed to eliminate sitosterol from tissue to the blood stream. Aside from the pro-atherogenic, oxyphytosterols also exhibit pro-inflammatory properties and antiviral activity against equine herpesvirus 1. Further research is needed to investigate the physiological and pathological role of oxyphytosterols in humans.

Source: Trends in Food Science and Technology - July 27, 2018 Category: Food Science Source Type: research