Sterol compounds are widely distributed in nature and can be divided into plant sterols, animal sterols and fungal sterols according to their different sources. Phytosterols usually exist in various forms and are substances with a structure similar to cyclic alcohols. They are widely distributed in nature and represent an end product of plant metabolism. All plant foods contain a certain amount of phytosterols, which are important components of plant cells and are widely found in the roots, stems, leaves, fruits and seeds of plants. Phytosterols are most abundant in vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, cereals, and legumes.
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The phytosterols ingested by humans in daily life are mainly beta-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. Phytosterols mainly exist in plant seeds in the form of free forms, fatty acid esters and glycosides. In recent years, with the rapid development of scientific research, especially life science, oil science and engineering technology, phytosterols have received great attention and attention in the fields of medicine, food, chemical industry, feed, plant genetic engineering and other fields.
Physical and chemical properties of phytosterols
The physical and chemical properties of phytosterols are mainly hydrophobic. Like animal cholesterol, phytosterols are also the basic components of plant cell membranes. Because it has a hydroxyl group in its structure, it is hydrophilic. Having both hydrophilic and lipophilic groups in the same material structure means that the material has emulsifying properties. The emulsifying properties of phytosterols can be improved by chemical modification of the hydroxyl groups. The amphoteric characteristics of phytosterols give it the ability to regulate and control the fluidity of reversed-phase membranes.
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Reduce cholesterol content and its mechanism of action
The structures of phytosterols and cholesterol are very similar. They only differ in the side chains of the molecular skeleton and are absorbed in the body in the same way as cholesterol. The absorption rate of phytosterols is lower than that of cholesterol, generally only 5% to 10%. Phytosterols can hinder cholesterol absorption, thereby reducing cholesterol levels in the blood. The serum cholesterol-lowering effect of phytosterols is mainly by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine and thereby reducing serum cholesterol concentration. Cholesterol is absorbed by bile acid chylomicrons in the duodenum and then absorbed in the small intestine. Phytosterols can compete with cholesterol for positions in bile acid chylomicrons, allowing the cholesterol that is not adsorbed by bile acid chylomicrons to be excreted through the stool, thereby inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine, while phytosterols themselves are almost not absorbed.
main functions and application effects of phytosterols
1. Reduce cholesterol content in eggs and poultry meat
Now the number of people who die from hyperlipidemia every year in the world reaches 2.6 million, and the number of hyperlipidemia patients in China reaches 160 million. Cardiovascular disease has gradually become the number one killer threatening human health. Clinical and epidemiological studies have found that atherosclerosis is an important factor leading to cardiovascular disease, and high-fat and high-cholesterol diets are closely related to atherosclerosis. Eggs have the highest cholesterol content among animal foods, with an average of 213 mg/egg. In order to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, it is of great significance to reduce the cholesterol content in eggs. The research and development of low-cholesterol eggs has become a research hotspot in many countries around the world. By using additives in laying hen diets, the cholesterol content of eggs can be reduced to a certain extent, which is one of the effective ways to develop low-cholesterol eggs. Phytosterols are used as feed additives and have the characteristics of high efficiency, non-toxicity, no drug residues and no side effects, and can improve the quality of meat and protein. There are experimental reports that adding 1% phytosterols to poultry feed found that the amount of liver plasma cholesterol decreased, indicating that phytosterols significantly reduce the absorption of cholesterol and bile acids. It was observed from the experiment that the absorption of sterols has a significant hindering effect from the small intestine to the colon. Feeding chickens with feed containing phytosterols has the activity of inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in chickens, and can reduce the cholesterol content in eggs and chickens.
2. Promote animal growth and health
2.1 Animal growth
Animal growth agents containing phytosterols are not affected by temperature or decomposed by enzymes and can be used as mixed feed or feed additives. Although plant growth hormones such as indoleacetic acid and gibberellin used by people in the past have certain effects as animal growth agents, they are extremely unstable compounds and are easily decomposed not only outside the body but also after entering the body. They often become inactive substances and gradually lose their effectiveness before exerting their physiological effects. In particular, temperature has a great influence, not only the feeding temperature but also the body temperature of the animal itself. This is the biggest Achilles heel in the use of plant growth hormones.
Phytosterols and plant growth hormones combine with lipids that can form molecular membranes in water to generate plant hormones-phytosterol-ribonucleoproteins. This ribonucleoprotein containing phytosterols has the function of promoting animal protein synthesis and thus constitutes a new type of animal growth hormone. After the generation of phytohormone-phytosterol-ribonucleoprotein, the stability of the original phytohormones to environmental temperature, animal body temperature and decomposition in the body is increased.
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2.2 Liver function improving
The livestock and poultry breeding industry is one of the important industries in many countries and regions. However, in recent years, the economic losses caused by liver diseases of livestock and poultry are quite serious. For example, cows with high milk production in the early stages of lactation receive more nutrients from milk than they consume. As an energy supplement, the body mobilizes a large amount of body fat, resulting in fatty liver, various metabolic disorders and some infectious diseases. Cows that are obese in late pregnancy are prone to liver dysfunction such as fatty liver after delivery, which inhibits ovarian activity and delays estrus, ovulation and conception. In addition, poultry are fed feed with too high nutritional value, which increases the burden of liver metabolism, leading to liver dysfunction and reduced egg production; liver fat accumulation causes liver yellowing and other phenomena, causing economic losses. Using phytosterols as a liver function improving agent can not only improve damaged liver function, but can also be used as a preventive agent for liver dysfunction and has the characteristics of low toxicity.
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The rapid development of the breeding and feed industry will face the following issues of great concern:
The first is the issue of feed resources. At present, with the acceleration of urbanization and the sharp reduction of cultivated land resources, the problem of competition between humans and animals for food has become increasingly prominent.
The second is the safety of livestock products. Livestock product safety issues are feed safety issues, such as the abuse of prohibited drugs in the feed production and animal feeding processes, excessive and excessive use of veterinary drugs, and insufficient strict enforcement of drug incompatibility and drug withdrawal period regulations.
The third is the environmental protection issue of the breeding industry. The negative impact of large-scale breeding on the environment has attracted increasing attention, and research on nutrient utilization will help solve this problem.
The application of phytosterols in feed additives will have good market prospects.
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First of all, phytosterols can regulate growth, promote protein synthesis, reduce feed coefficients, and save feed resources; secondly, phytosterols have a significant effect on lowering cholesterol and can increase lean meat rate. Improving the quality of animal products is beneficial to humans. Health: Thirdly, phytosterols have antioxidant activity and other physiological functions, which can improve animal production performance and improve the economic benefits of breeding; finally, phytosterols are extremely safe and have been successfully used in food.
Phytosterols from HSF Biotech
HSF Biotech has always been committed to becoming an excellent Phytosterol supplier, providing customers with high-quality products and services. Our company adheres to the market-oriented and benefit-centered vigorously advocate independent research and development. We have established cooperative relations with many universities, and are committed to taking the road of technological innovation and technology first.
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