Safety evaluation of certain food additives - ipcs inchem

120 PHYTOSTEROLS, PHYTOSTANOLS AND THEIR ESTERS
Figure 1. Molecular structure of cholesterol and some phytosterols and
phytostanols
2. BIOLOGICAL DATA
2.1 Biochemical aspects
2.1.1 Absorption, distribution and excretion
After oral intake, phytosterol and phytostanol fatty acid esters are readily
hydrolysed by intestinal esterases (Normén et al., 2006). Studies with infusions into
the intestine of healthy humans showed that during passage from the duodenum to
the proximal jejunum, more than 40% of phytostanol esters are hydrolysed, but also
that esterification of free phytostanols (about 30%) occurs (Nissinen et al., 2007).