Daily consumption of 2 g of plant stanols (as Plant stanol ester) is proven to reduce LDL cholesterol up to 14 % and total serum cholesterol by up to 10 % [3]. Many Benecol products, like the yoghurt drinks, contain the recommended daily intake and thus making them a convenient way to add Plant stanol ester to the ordinary diet.

The benefits of adding Plant stanol ester products into the ordinary diet can be seen even in two weeks. But most importantly, the effectiveness is maintained when Benecol products are consumed continuously on a daily basis.

The effectiveness of Benecol products remains the same whether the daily 2 gram plant stanol (as Plant stanol ester) intake is consumed at once (e.g. in a yoghurt drink) or is divided into several portions (e.g. in spread) [4]. However, the optimal cholesterol lowering effect is achieved when Benecol products are used as a part of a meal.

Benecol products containing plant stanol ester are effective in cholesterol lowering regardless of the type of the diet they are added to. The effect is of a similar magnitude irrespective of the fat content or quality of the background diet or if the dietary cholesterol intake is high or low. Effectiveness has been proven by the clinical studies conducted in Europe, Americas and Asia.

When cholesterol levels are only mildly elevated, adding Benecol products to the diet is often sufficient for cholesterol lowering. According to a clinical study [5], 80% of mildly hypercholesterolemic individuals achieved the total cholesterol target level (NCEP guideline: <200 mg/dl, <5.2mmol/l) simply by including Plant stanol ester enriched Benecol spread in their daily diet. But importantly, Plant stanol ester also adds to the effect of other healthy dietary changes.

Plant stanol ester has gone through extensive efficacy, safety and toxicology testing. Over 70 published clinical studies, assessments conducted by food authorities, and the long experience of Benecol products on the market verify the safety of Plant stanol ester. The consumption is shown to be well-tolerated and no side-effects have been reported even at high doses.

Plant stanol ester has been evaluated and declared safe by food authorities in number of countries including:

• EU (Scientific Committee on Foods)
• USA, GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Japan, FOSHU (TOKUHO) status
• China, New Resource Food approval
• Russia, Certificate of state registration

Plant stanols are practically unabsorbed, and are effectively excreted from the body. Levels of plant stanols in the blood remain very low even after continuous long-term use of Benecol products, but also when the daily intake of plant stanols exceeds the currently recommenced 2 grams per day (up to 9 gram per day) as showed by the most recent clinical data [6], [7].

Even though plant stanol is also found to be safe in children, an ordinary healthy diet is sufficient for them except for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and thus Plant stanol ester is not generally recommended for healthy children younger than five years old.