Campesterols: what are they and what are they good for?

Melanie Ramos 3 min. of reading Joint Health Leave a comment

Campesterol is a type of phytochemical that offers a variety of benefits for arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and prostate enlargement.

Campesterols chemically resemble cholesterol and are found in many fruits and veggies, like bananas, peppers, and potatoes. Because of their structural similarity, campesterols seem to be able to block the absorption of “bad” LDL cholesterol and balance blood lipid levels.

Campesterols also show anti-inflammatory properties, so they might be helpful for arthritis and cardiovascular diseases, among other health conditions.

What Are Campesterols?

Campesterols are phytosterols, a type of compound present in many fruits and veggies, but usually in very small amounts.

Campesterol was first isolated from rapeseed, or Brassica campestris. Later on, they found these compounds could inhibit several pro-inflammatory compounds involved in arthritis and some matrix-degrading compounds that play a role in cartilage destruction. As such, campesterol is already available as dietary supplements marketed to help with arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and prostate enlargement.

Campesterol Properties

Anti-inflammatory Uses

Campesterols are used to treat prostate growth and inflammation, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Campesterol is a key component of the American dwarf palm berry extract (Saw Palmetto), and it’s considered an effective natural treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Campesterols are also marketed for people with osteoarthritis, which is characterized by cartilage breakdown, mild inflammation, and joint pain. Campesterol might also help with other inflammatory conditions like fibromyalgia, sinusitis, and allergies, although scientific research still needs to back up these claims.

Cholesterol Control

Besides the anti-inflammatory properties, campesterol was found to have an affinity for LDL cholesterol and can reduce its serum levels by up to 10%. As a result, campesterol might have some value in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart failure, arteriosclerosis, and stroke. However, plant sterols affect people differently, and more studies are needed before making solid recommendations about beneficial campesterol doses.

Sources of Campesterol

Many veggies, fruits, and seeds contain campesterol, but usually in low concentrations.

Foods considered good sources of campesterol include bananas, pomegranates, palmetto berries, grapefruit, saw palmetto, cucumbers, peppers, onions, potatoes, oats, canola oil, bean oil, corn, and coffee oil.

Like with most nutrients, campesterol levels depend on where the foods are grown and the soil quality. Geneticists are researching ways to boost campesterol content in some plants. Most campesterol supplements are extracted from American dwarf palm berries.