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Beta-sitosterol

Beta-sitosterol suppliers and sourcing guide

Beta-sitosterol is the most abundant plant sterol, a cholesterol-like compound found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and wood. It is recovered from the deodorizer distillate left over from refining soybean, rapeseed and other vegetable oils, or from tall oil from pine pulping, then purified by saponification, solvent crystallization and drying. Brands usually buy it as a mixed phytosterol powder in which beta-sitosterol is the main sterol alongside campesterol and stigmasterol, or as a higher-purity beta-sitosterol grade.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
β-Sitosterol · Stigmast-5-en-3β-ol · 22,23-Dihydrostigmasterol · Plant sterols · Phytosterols
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of beta-sitosterol

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Mixed phytosterols

    Powder or flakes with a stated total sterol content in which beta-sitosterol is the largest single sterol, with campesterol, stigmasterol and brassicasterol making up much of the rest.

  • High-purity beta-sitosterol

    Grades with a higher stated beta-sitosterol content, made by further crystallization; used where the label names beta-sitosterol on its own.

  • Soy-derived or pine-derived

    Vegetable oil sterols (often soy, sometimes non-GMO) and tall oil sterols from pine have different sterol profiles, so the source is usually stated on the spec.

  • Sterol esters and dispersible grades

    Sterols esterified with fatty acids, or milled and blended with emulsifiers, for use in oils, spreads and drinks where free sterols do not dissolve.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Sterol profile
Beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, brassicasterol and stanols by GC (often as TMS derivatives), with total sterols; this is the main identity and strength test.
Loss on drying and ash
Moisture by loss on drying and residue on ignition, which show drying and inorganic carry-over.
Residual solvents
Hexane, ethanol, methanol or other crystallization solvents by headspace GC.
Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS.
Particle size
Sieve or laser diffraction results, which affect flow in blends and dispersion in liquids.
Microbiology
Total plate count, yeast and mold, and absence of pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Keep beta-sitosterol sealed in a cool, dry place away from light; free sterols are fairly stable, while ester and dispersible grades can oxidize and should be protected from heat and air. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of the sterol profile for older stock.

Lots and expiry dates

Record the beta-sitosterol percentage and full sterol profile for each lot, since the split between sterols changes with the oil or wood source. Note the source (soy, rapeseed, pine) on receiving records, because it matters for allergen and non-GMO paperwork.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Beta-sitosterol suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking beta-sitosterol suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of beta-sitosterol can brands buy?

Common forms include mixed phytosterols, high-purity beta-sitosterol, soy-derived or pine-derived and sterol esters and dispersible grades. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for beta-sitosterol include?

Expect sterol profile, loss on drying and ash, residual solvents, heavy metals, particle size and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should beta-sitosterol be stored?

Keep beta-sitosterol sealed in a cool, dry place away from light; free sterols are fairly stable, while ester and dispersible grades can oxidize and should be protected from heat and air. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of the sterol profile for older stock.

What is the regulatory status of beta-sitosterol?

Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists beta-sitosterol (CAS 83-46-5) as an isolate under Schedule 1, item 2 of the Natural Health Products Regulations, with source materials that include soybean seed and pine trunk. Health Canada's free plant sterols monograph expresses doses as free plant sterols including at least 80% combined beta-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. The same database entry lists beta-sitosterol as a non-medicinal skin-conditioning agent for topical use only.

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