Home Ingredients Lipophytol® (Microencapsulated Plant Sterols — Lipofoods)
Cardiovascular

Lipophytol® (Microencapsulated Plant Sterols — Lipofoods)

Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Lipophytol® is a water-dispersible, microencapsulated plant sterol ingredient from Lipofoods (a Lubrizol company). Microencapsulation lets plant sterols mix easily into foods and supplements. Plant sterols as a class are well established for lowering LDL cholesterol, but there are no published human trials of Lipophytol itself. Everything known about it is borrowed from studies of ordinary plant sterols.

Studied Dose About 1.5 to 3 grams of plant sterols per day with meals. This is the dose range studied for plant sterols in general; no dose of Lipophytol itself has been tested in a published trial, and the LDL-lowering effect plateaus above about 3 grams a day.
Active Compound Microencapsulated, water-dispersible plant sterols (phytosterols), up to 90% sterol content.

Benefits

Lower LDL cholesterol

Plant sterols at about 1.5 to 3 grams per day lower LDL (bad) cholesterol by roughly 8 to 10%. This is a well established effect of plant sterols in general, shown across many trials of the generic ingredient rather than of Lipophytol. Taking more than about 3 grams a day does not lower LDL any further.

Supported by Trial 1

Lower LDL, but heart outcomes never tested

LDL cholesterol is a surrogate marker, not a health outcome. The review cited on this page states plainly that plant sterol foods are the most widely used nonprescription cholesterol-lowering approach despite the lack of randomized trials investigating their long-term safety and cardiovascular efficacy. So plant sterols have not been shown to reduce heart attacks, strokes or deaths. Treat the LDL drop as a lab number that moved, not as proven protection.

Supported by Trial 1

Technical note, not a health benefit

This is a manufacturing property for the companies that make products, not a health benefit for the person taking it. Microencapsulation makes sterols water-dispersible so they blend into drinks and foods. No published trial has compared this microencapsulated form against ordinary plant sterols in people, so there is no evidence that it works any better in your body.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Blocked cholesterol absorption

Plant sterols compete with cholesterol for uptake in the intestine, reducing how much dietary and biliary cholesterol is absorbed.

2

Increased LDL clearance

Lower absorption prompts the liver to pull more LDL cholesterol from the blood.

Clinical trials

1
Review article on generic plant sterols (not a trial, and not a study of Lipophytol)
PubMed

Narrative review of plant sterols and stanols in cholesterol management. (Barkas et al. 2023, Nutrients). It is a summary of other people's studies, with no participants of its own, and it does not include any study of Lipophytol.

Not applicable. A review has no participants of its own; it summarizes published studies in adults.

About 2 grams a day of plant sterols consistently lowers LDL cholesterol. The same review states that randomized trials of long-term safety and of actual cardiovascular events have not been carried out, so LDL lowering is the only proven effect. The review also notes that higher blood levels of plant sterols have been linked to the presence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and that genetic evidence raises concerns about the safety of phytosterol supplementation.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated at recommended intakes.
Plant sterols modestly lower blood levels of fat-soluble carotenoids such as beta-carotene, so eat plenty of fruit and vegetables while taking them. The cited review also reports that higher blood levels of plant sterols have been linked to the presence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and that genetic evidence raises concerns about the safety of phytosterol supplementation. This is unsettled, but worth raising with your doctor.
Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported.

Important Drug interactions

Ezetimibe — both reduce cholesterol absorption; consult your doctor.
Plant sterols lower LDL by a different route than statins, so the two are sometimes used together. Plant sterols are not a substitute for prescribed cholesterol medication. Tell your doctor if you take both.
People with sitosterolemia (also called phytosterolemia), a rare inherited condition in which plant sterols build up in the body, must not take plant sterols at all.

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Frequently asked questions about Lipophytol® (Microencapsulated Plant Sterols — Lipofoods)

What is Lipophytol?

Lipophytol® is a water-dispersible, microencapsulated plant sterol ingredient from Lipofoods (a Lubrizol company). Microencapsulation lets plant sterols mix easily into foods and supplements.

What is Lipophytol used for?

Lipophytol is researched primarily for Cardiovascular. Plant sterols at about 1.5 to 3 grams per day lower LDL (bad) cholesterol by roughly 8 to 10%. This is a well established effect of plant sterols in general, shown across many trials of the generic ingredient rather than of Lipophytol.

What is the recommended dosage of Lipophytol?

The clinically studied dose is About 1.5 to 3 grams of plant sterols per day with meals. This is the dose range studied for plant sterols in general; no dose of Lipophytol itself has been tested in a published trial, and the LDL-lowering effect plateaus above about 3 grams a day. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Lipophytol safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Lipophytol is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated at recommended intakes. Plant sterols modestly lower blood levels of fat-soluble carotenoids such as beta-carotene, so eat plenty of fruit and vegetables while taking them. It may also interact with some medications. Lipophytol is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Lipophytol interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Ezetimibe — both reduce cholesterol absorption; consult your doctor. Plant sterols lower LDL by a different route than statins, so the two are sometimes used together. Plant sterols are not a substitute for prescribed cholesterol medication. Tell your doctor if you take both. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Lipophytol?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Lipophytol as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Barkas F, Bathrellou E, Nomikos T, et al. Plant Sterols and Plant Stanols in Cholesterol Management and Cardiovascular Prevention. Nutrients. 2023;15(13). doi: 10.3390/nu15132845..PubMedUsed to support: Review of generic plant sterols and stanols. Supports LDL lowering by plant sterols as a class. It does not study Lipophytol, and it states that randomized trials of long-term safety and of cardiovascular outcomes have not been done.