Phytosterols are divided into three types: 4-non-methyl sterol, 4-methyl sterol and 4,4'-dimethyl sterol. 4-non-methyl sterol mainly includes beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol and vegetable Seed sterol and so on. The structure of plant sterols is basically similar to that of animal sterols. The difference is the number of methyl groups attached to position c-4 and the difference in side chains at position c-11. It is the slight differences in these side chains that make them different Physiological function.

Plant sterols are originally non-saponifiables of vegetable oils. Industrially, they use soybeans and rapeseeds as raw materials to extract by-products from the production of vitamin E, or from non-saponifiables from the production of rice bran oil. Products obtained after refining.