Compound Monograph

Campesterol

Campesterol is a common plant sterol (phytosterol) found throughout the plant kingdom and across the human diet.

Work in progress

Classification

Campesterol is a phytosterol, part of the terpenoids class. The largest class of plant compounds, built from five-carbon isoprene units — the essential-oil aromatics, resins, bitter principles, saponins, and plant sterols.

Terpenoids Sterols & Steroids

Where Does It Come From? (9)

Campesterol is a naturally occurring phytosterol, found in Giant river reed, Vegetable oils, Whole grains and legumes and 6 other sources. It is well tolerated orally (low toxicity).

Cat's Claw Uncaria tomentosa Catuaba Trichilia catigua Eleuthero Root Eleutherococcus senticosus Giant river reed Milk Thistle Silybum marianum Muira Puama Ptychopetalum olacoides Stevia Stevia rebaudiana Vegetable oilsWhole grains and legumes

Research & Evidence

Campesterol is one of the major dietary phytosterols, structurally similar to cholesterol but of plant origin, and it is found widely across vegetables, grains, legumes and vegetable oils. Like other plant sterols it competes with cholesterol for absorption in the gut, which is the basis for the cholesterol-lowering claims made for phytosterol-enriched foods.

Toxicity & Safety

Campesterol is a normal part of the diet and is considered well tolerated. Plant sterols as a group are widely used in functional foods to help lower LDL cholesterol; the rare inherited disorder sitosterolemia, in which plant sterols accumulate abnormally, is the main context in which dietary phytosterols are restricted.