Plant sterols and sterolins: Potential immune system modulators

This PDF was generated from an article on http://drhoffman.com/ © 2017 Ronald L. Hoffman MD, PC. All Rights Reserved | 1 Sterols are plant fats found in all plant-based foods. Sterols, including cholesterol, are in the same large classification family of steroids but they do not have the negative effects that often are associated with steroids. Sterolins are glucosides, which are molecular structures joined to the sterol. Sterolin is easily destroyed, and without it, the sterol does not have the same immune-enhancing benefits. In nature, plants never contain sterols only. The sterols are always associated with their glucoside sterolin. The original research on sterols and sterolins was based on an extract of the African Hypoxis plant or “African Potato.” Its nomenclature derived because of the potato-like appearance of the Hypoxis plant. Because of the presence of other potentially harmful substances contained within the Hypoxis plant, other plants were investigated as sources for the sterols and sterolins used in supplementation.