QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Awad, A. B. Articles by Fink, C. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Awad, A. B. Articles by Fink, C. S.

---

Article

Phytosterols as Anticancer Dietary Components: Evidence and Mechanism of Action^{1 ,2}

Department of Physical Therapy, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY

³To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Phytosterols (PS) or plant sterols are structurally similar to cholesterol. The most common PS are ß-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. Epidemiologic and experimental studies suggest that dietary PS may offer protection from the most common cancers in Western societies, such as colon, breast and prostate cancer. This review summarizes the findings of these studies and the possible mechanisms by which PS offer this protection. These include the effect of PS on membrane structure and function of tumor and host tissue, signal transduction pathways that regulate tumor growth and apoptosis, immune function of the host and cholesterol metabolism by the host. In addition, suggestions for future studies to fill the gaps in our knowledge have been given.

KEY WORDS: • phytosterols • ß-sitosterol • membrane sphingomyelin • apoptosis • tumor growth • ceramide • cancer

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. D. Stoner Foodstuffs for Preventing Cancer: The Preclinical and Clinical Development of Berries Cancer Prevention Research, March 1, 2009; 2(3): 187 - 194. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Newell-McGloughlin Nutritionally Improved Agricultural Crops Plant Physiology, July 1, 2008; 147(3): 939 - 953. [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Bao, Y. Li, S.-X. Deng, D. Landry, and I. Tabas Sitosterol-containing Lipoproteins Trigger Free Sterol-induced Caspase-independent Death in ACAT-competent Macrophages J. Biol. Chem., November 3, 2006; 281(44): 33635 - 33649. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. M. Clifton, M. Noakes, D. Ross, A. Fassoulakis, M. Cehun, and P. Nestel High dietary intake of phytosterol esters decreases carotenoids and increases plasma plant sterol levels with no additional cholesterol lowering J. Lipid Res., August 1, 2004; 45(8): 1493 - 1499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Muti, A. B. Awad, H. Schunemann, C. S. Fink, K. Hovey, J. L. Freudenheim, Y.-W. B. Wu, C. Bellati, V. Pala, and F. Berrino A Plant Food-Based Diet Modifies the Serum {beta}-Sitosterol Concentration in Hyperandrogenic Postmenopausal Women J. Nutr., December 1, 2003; 133(12): 4252 - 4255. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B. Katan, S. M. Grundy, P. Jones, M. Law, T. Miettinen, R. Paoletti, and Stresa Workshop Participants Efficacy and Safety of Plant Stanols and Sterols in the Management of Blood Cholesterol Levels Mayo Clin. Proc., August 1, 2003; 78(8): 965 - 978. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. Nieminen, A.-M. Mustonen, P. Lindstrom-Seppa, V. Karkkainen, H. Mussalo-Rauhamaa, and J. V.K. Kukkonen Phytosterols Affect Endocrinology and Metabolism of the Field Vole (Microtus agrestis) Experimental Biology and Medicine, February 1, 2003; 228(2): 188 - 193. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]