A 36-year prospective study conducted by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that higher dietary intake of phytosterols, particularly beta-sitosterol, is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The study, involving over 206,000 participants, utilized a multilayered approach, examining associations with clinical outcomes, plasma metabolic biomarkers, metabolomic profiles, and gut microbial characteristics.

Source: Nutrition 2025