1. Higher dietary intake of phytosterols, particularly beta-sitosterol, is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
2. Over 206,000 participants were involved in the 36-year study.
3. The research utilized a multilayered approach, examining associations with clinical outcomes, plasma metabolic biomarkers, metabolomic profiles, and gut microbial characteristics.
4. The study's strengths included a large sample size, extended follow-up, and integration of dietary, clinical, metabolic, and microbial data.

Source: Nutrition 2025