Plant sterols and stanols
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I saw this article and could help my mind from thinking "plant musks." :D
Seems like the authors are being awfully general...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/12911045/
Efficacy and safety of plant stanols and sterols in the management of blood cholesterol levels.
Mayo Clin Proc. 2003 Aug;78(8):965-78.
Abstract
Foods with plant stanol or sterol esters lower serum cholesterol levels. We summarize the deliberations of 32 experts on the efficacy and safety of sterols and stanols. A meta-analysis of 41 trials showed that intake of 2 g/d of stanols or sterols reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by 10%; higher intakes added little. Efficacy is similar for sterols and stanols, but the food form may substantially affect LDL reduction. Effects are additive with diet or drug interventions: eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in stanols or sterols can reduce LDL by 20%; adding sterols or stanols to statin medication is more effective than doubling the statin dose. A meta-analysis of 10 to 15 trials per vitamin showed that plasma levels of vitamins A and D are not affected by stanols or sterols. Alpha carotene, lycopene, and vitamin E levels remained stable relative to their carrier molecule, LDL. Beta carotene levels declined, but adverse health outcomes were not expected. Sterol-enriched foods increased plasma sterol levels, and workshop participants discussed whether this would increase risk, in view of the marked increase of atherosclerosis in patients with homozygous phytosterolemia. This risk is believed to be largely hypothetical, and any increase due to the small increase in plasma plant sterols may be more than offset by the decrease in plasma LDL. There are insufficient data to suggest that plant stanols or sterols either prevent or promote colon carcinogenesis. Safety of sterols and stanols is being monitored by follow-up of samples from the general population; however, the power of such studies to pick up infrequent increases in common diseases, if any exist, is limited. A trial with clinical outcomes probably would not answer remaining questions about infrequent adverse effects. Trials with surrogate end points such as intima-media thickness might corroborate the expected efficacy in reducing atherosclerosis. However, present evidence is sufficient to promote use of sterols and stanols for lowering LDL cholesterol levels in persons at increased risk for coronary heart disease. -
Seems like the authors are being awfully general...
All the related citations are pretty general as well. The plant and fungal steroids that I could find in a quick search all look roughly like cholesterol (with very rougly ~5-8 carbons trailing off of the 17 carbon of the D ring. Cholesterol itself has 8 carbons trailing there, and 27 carbon molecules total, compared to Testosterone's 19 or pregnenolone's 21 .)
Here's an excerpt from the wiki article on campesterol;
Being a steroid, campesterol is a precursor of anabolic steroid boldenone.
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This led to suspicion that some athletes testing positive on boldenone undecylenate did not actually abuse the hormone itself but consumed food rich in campesterol or similar phytosteroids.
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It is thought that the campesterol molecules compete with cholesterol and thus reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the human intestine.[10] Plant sterols may also act directly on intestinal cells and affect transporter proteins. In addition, there may be an effect on the synthesis of cholesterol transporting proteins in the liver cells ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campesterol
From a really quick read it seems that the conversion of campesterol to boldenone would likely take place in the mitochondria via p450scc which is the same stuff that converts cholesterol into pregnenolone and kicks off the process of steroidogenesis... I wonder whether or not that would allow for a buildup routine using one kind of plant sterol or another. How accessible is p450scc if a phytosterol is applied to the skin? It obviously works if a person is willing to eat the stuff. I wonder why this kind of pro-hormone usage isn't more common...
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- logos April 2013