Sterols are an important class of organic molecules. They occur naturally in plants, animals and fungi, with the most familiar type of animal sterol being cholesterol, which has been shown to contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. Within the past decade, interest in plant sterols as a dietary supplement has increased, due to studies showing that they can contribute to lower cholesterol levels. Types of sterols Sterols of plants are called phytosterols and sterols of animals are c… (More on Sterols)