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Elevated cholesterol is not the only important risk factor for heart disease, but doctors do consider it significant. That puts people with high cholesterol in a quandary. Should they take a prescription medication to lower their cholesterol, or might they use a more natural approach? One reader asked about plant stanol esters. These natural compounds can reduce blood cholesterol levels significantly.
Will Plant Stanol Esters Lower Your Cholesterol?
Q. I was surprised that you didn’t include a reference to plant stanol esters in your answer to a question about lowering cholesterol. Six years ago my husband’s cholesterol was at 385. We didn’t want him to take statins because of interactions with other health problems.
His cardiologist recommended that he use at least one tablespoon of Benecol at each meal and make some other dietary changes. This brought his cholesterol down to 185 and the balance of HDL versus LDL was restored to a level.
A. The FDA has concluded that stanol esters can lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Spreads such as Benecol contain these plant products.
We are delighted to learn that the dietary changes your husband made had such a profound impact on his cholesterol levels. In most cases, people who consume about 2 grams of plant stanol esters per day lower their LDL cholesterol by about 10 percent (Rosin et al, Cholesterol, Oct. 12, 2015). Your husband was able to get a much bigger bang for his buck.
Other Foods That Contain Plant Stanol Esters:
Benecol margarine is not the only food that has been formulated to provide additional plant stanol esters. The same manufacturer has created a cereal-based snack bar that provides 1.6 grams of these plant compounds when consumed twice a day (Sarkkinen et al, Cholesterol, May 2, 2018). Finnish researchers determined that people consuming such snack bars lower their LDL cholesterol by approximately 8 percent and non-LDL cholesterol by about 9 percent. Other food companies have created yogurt-like drinks containing plant stanol esters. These lower cholesterol by a roughly similar amount (Salo & Kuusisto, Cholesterol,Feb. 21, 2016).
Natural sources of plant stanol esters include Brussels sprouts, olive oil, wheat germ and almonds. Regularly including some of these foods in the diet along with food products developed to lower cholesterol might well help reduce blood levels of LDL. For most people, however, the amount of cholesterol lowering is modest and would not compare to the effects from taking a statin medication.
Revised 6/28/18
Hilary D.
VA
I don’t understand why there is no warning label on Benecol. I used their spread a fee times. The first two times, after putting a small amount on bread, I felt bloated and uncomfortable. The 3rd time I put about a tablespoon of the spread on a baked potato. I developed an extremely itchy rash with raised bumps all over my body.
Marilyn
Georgia
Be careful with plant stanols. I used CholestOff because I had reactions to every Statin drug. The CholestOff caused bleeding in my retina. Yes, it did!!! The Retinal specialist kept saying I had to be taking a steroid. I knew I wasn’t. Finally, I realized, the only thing new to my daily diet was the CholestOff. As soon as I stopped the medication, the bleeding stopped and completely healed. I saved my vision. Please be careful using CholestOff.
Birney
98030
And how does this discussion fit in with the latest indication on egg consumption? What I am hearing is that the cholesterol in eggs doesn’t have much of an effect on blood cholesterol. So what are the plant sterols blocking?
Laura
Paris
I have lowered my cholesterol by taking plant sterols / stanols in pill form. “CholesterOff” is sold by NatureMade and available at your local CVS.
Christine
Cornwall
I too now have an allergic reaction exactly as described by other correspondents. Rash on skin, very itchy and a sort of “lump” at the bottom of my throat. Almost an acid reflux sort of feeling. I took 2 supermarket own brand of “benecol”.
Ted
Essex
I’m devastated to find out that many people had clearly allergic reaction to Benecol products, and there is no clear information that it may cause allergy on the product packaging.
My 3 years old just had severe reaction to Benecol yugurt drink, he had it twice today and developed severe rashes and raised lumps all over his body. He didn’t have anything else to eat and developed itchy rashes right after the drink.
Luckily, antihistamine marginally helped, we were getting his Epi pen ready!
I think there’s enough ‘coincidence’ in this forum to relate allergy reaction to Benecol. Is there a covered up here?
Concerning parents
Yvonne
uk
I have a rash that will not go. My meds have been changed, scans, bloods… stopped some meds, still itching and prickly pain on upper arms. Stopped statin, still itching, now wondering about benecol and stopping it as from today. I have been having it everyday except when I was away on holiday and looking back the itching decreased.
moira
UK
I have experienced throat swelling and feeling of bubble or lump in throat, not painful but very worrying. Doctor refered me to ENT but on taking anti histamine for other reasons it cleared throat. Checked on my eating habit and afar eliminations conclude it s benecol yoghurt that is the culprit.
John
GB
I started taking Benecol Yogurts about four weeks ago, in about the second week I got a rash around my ankles which rapidly spread up my legs, my arms and shoulders it was like a prickly heat.
I visited my doctor who was puzzled and asked if I’ve been taking anything, I mentioned the benecol in passing and the GP said to stop taking it and see if it goes.
If it does go take it again to see if the itching and rash return.
After about 4 days the itching and rash eased and disappeared a few days after that.
I took the benecol and sure enough it came back.
g b
Started using benecol new recipe buttery 1 month ago as a replacement for low fat spread, so allergic reaction started with severe itching of feet and ankles spreading to extremities of arms followed by shoulders upon scratching itch massive heat build up on rashed area anti-histamines have helped but had severe swelling of lynph nodes in neck, 3 types of antibiotics 500mg x 7 per day removed swelling instantly but now antibiotics stopped itching returned.
SL
I have started using Benecol chews but after 2 weeks I experienced severe pain around my liver area which I never had before. I stopped for few days and the pain went away so for testing purpose I used chews again and experienced the pain again at same spot so this concludes that my pain is due to Benecol so I have decided to stop it to avoid any further complications.
Norma O-A
I have just started Benecol chews as of 10 days ago. I have been experiencing severe itching, usually starts on an arm or leg, and drives me crazy, I apply benadryl lotion and take an antihistamine, but it still takes an hour or two to resolve. At times, the itch jumps to other location. It seems to intensify with the amount of chews that I take. My doctor wants me taking 4 a day.
Plant Stanol
Thanks for the info. What’s more, stanols and sterols are necessary components of cell membranes that are produced by both animals and plants. Now these substances can naturally be found in numerous whole grains; vegetables, vegetable oil, seeds, nuts, legumes and fruits in small quantities.
Chris S
I started Cholest Off a few weeks ago. However, shortly after I developed an itchy rash on the inside of my legs, around the knees. Hydrocortisone cream did not work to stop the spread, so I stopped using Cholest Off to see if it goes away.
I may start Cholest Off again in the future to get 100% certain it was the causing the skin rash, and contact the manufacturer / FDA to add side effects on their box.
Mike W.
I was interested to hear about the allergic reaction that some of your readers experienced with Benecol products. I was advised to take plant sterols to help reduce my cholesterol and began drinking the Benecol yogurt drinks and using Benecol Lite spread. After a few days, I too developed an itchy rash on my hands, head, legs, feet and arms. My eyes also became very sore.
I believe this is an allergic reaction, however, it is difficult to pin down what may have caused it. It could be an allergic reaction to the Benecol products or some other problem, perhaps an exposure to a chemical. I have stopped using Benecol products to see whether this cessation has any affect on my skin condition. I am not normally sensitive to food products, be they additives or ingredients and I was not aware of having any food intolerance, however, I have stopped using Benecol as a precaution.
Is an allergic reaction to Benecol quite common, I can find very little information on websites about this? Are other brands likely to cause the same symptoms (if indeed it proves to be the Benecol)?
Karen
I started using Benecol spread two days ago and I have come out in a prickly heat style rash all over and I itch like crazy. I have already decided to stop using it immediately as I have used no other new product within that time.
E.C.
I too recently had an allergic reaction to the BENECOL SPREAD (badly swollen and blistered mouth, etc.). I have reported it to the manufacturer, they insist that their product is safe and that they have not received any other reports of any kind of similar incident.
HK
I have in the past several years been prescribed different cholesterol drugs and with each encounter, I’ve experienced untoward effects. Consequently, when I was introduced to super shots, I was finally able to get the cholesterol down below 200. That is to say down to 183.
I was elated and several weeks ago, was disappointed to find out the company will no longer be making this product. What is a suitable substitute? I contacted the company and was told they did not have a great demand for the drink. I am at a loss since the untoward actions of the prescription drugs were not minor but could have been life threatening.
A natural substitute is available and is suddenly taken off of the market. Makes no sense to me but what do I know? Could you address this or give some insight as to the real story behind the removal off of the market?
TCS
I have been taking Benecol for about one month and have developed an itchy rash all over my body, I will stop taking it to see if it is the cause.
CD
I started eating Benecol products a month ago and have developed an itchy rash on my legs. Have just stopped to see if it goes away. Can’t think of any other reason for the rash (and have never had it before).
Can’t find any other information about this on the web.
RB
I was advised to drink Benecol by my doctor about a month ago. After one carton a day of the non-dairy drink and occasional use of the spread I have now begun to experience stomach cramps and diarrhea. It could be coincidence but it’s not like anything I have had before. These kind of symptoms are reported on several independent web sites but Benecol state that “In clinical studies, gastrointestinal side effects with BENECOL® Spread were comparable to placebo.”
C.E.
I have been taking Benecol drinking yogurt for about a month and also developed a rash on my legs. More recently, stomach cramps and nausea too, which I think may be related.
Anyone else have this?
JJ
I started taking Benecol Yoghurt Drink and have had a very severe allergic reaction — rashes over my arms and itching. Very similar to Paul Allen.
paul allen
I have recently started eating benecol yoghurt, but have started to come out in a rash over my upper arms, back and chest. Have you ever heard of this happening to anybody else?
bc
Many products have mono- and di-glycerides. These are just about as harmful as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. You will find that products that don’t have hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils will have mono- or di-glycerides. My doctor explained that these become triglycerides, which is one of those fatty acids that you want to control because they too clog up your arteries.
Mike Armstrong
On the advice of a PhD food scientest friend, I took Benecol capsules when they were available, and continue to use Benecol or Take Control spread in lieu of butter. Those are available in Publix locally, but not in all supermarkets. Nice thing about them is they taste good, and the more you use the better the effect. English Muffins dripping “butter” are back in my diet!
Jack Vidano
Read your article about plant stenol esters in spreads, such as Benecol etc. I have higher cholesterol, and my doctor advises statins; I won’t take them, due to conern
about damage to my liver, etc. I do not use butter or margarine. But have replaced them with virgin olive oil, and have managed to lower my cholesterol little by little.
Beth Jones
Have not begun my search for Benecol due to illness and cold weather. Am 79 and have high cholesterol, genetic, but afraid to take drugs lest they damage my liver as in the case of a friend. I also do not want fibromyalgia as I have a chronically painful upper rightarm muscle already.
Is Benecol available OTC in pharmacies or should I begin looking in health food stores? i.e. when I am able to venture out of my home again.
DR
Would plant stanol esters have any impact on the liver since it works in the stomach? I have a liver problem and cannot take other cholestrol medicines, but need to lower my cholestrol level.
pt
What is GGT?
Charlotte Suntag
I took an over the counter (cholest off) plant sterol as directed on label and within 2-3 months my cholesterol dropped 42 points. However, my body started to become achey, my GGT went to over 700 (60 is normal) and after many tests I was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Of course I stopped taking the pill but after 4 years I still have PMR. I notice also that when I eat nuts my GGT increases and I get pains all over–however my cholesterol dropped 52 points in a short time after eating about 25 pistachio nuts in one day. It seems that plant sterols bring on the pains of PMR even though I am on Prednisone. Can you elaborate on this happening to other patients?
Jennifer
Florida
I see this was posted many years back, but if anyone has more info on this, I would very much appreciate it. I began taking the chews and I am aching all over. It is horrible!
Karen
Tennessee
I also started aching all over while taking the Benecol chews. Did the pain go away when you stopped using them?
Chris
Started taking Benecol early this year – wish l hadn’t.
In June was admitted to A&E with severe esophageal pain which has carried on over the summer – had numerous scans/scopes but we’re all clear – stopped Benecol 10 days ago and have been pain free for a week – obviously allergic to Benecol but wish I sussed out the connection earlier