Abstract
A lot of basic and clinical researchers with plant sterols have been conducted after the discovery of lowering effect of blood cholesterol by plant sterols in the 1950s. Based on these abundant research results, the foods added plant sterols have been commercially developed in Japan and Western countries. Various results on the physiological effects and safety of plant sterols have been reported, meanwhile the reports on a different interpretation from the past recognition have also appeared recently. The latest knowledge of physiological effects and safety of plant sterols were summarized in this review.
