Research progress on biological functions of phytosterol(esters)and applications in animal production
YANG Wei
HE Xi
Abstract：With the intensification of livestock,poultry,and aquaculture industries,phytosterol(esters),as natural plant-derived active substances,have attracted considerable attention in animal nutrition due to their remarkable functions in cholesterol-lowering,antioxidant,and immunomodulatory activities.Physiologically,phytosterol(esters)not only possess anti-inflammatory,lipid metabolism regulatory,and antioxidant properties,but also improve gut microbiota composition and enhance intestinal barrier function.In pig farming,phytosterol(esters)increase average daily gain,reduce the feed-to-gain ratio,improve meat quality,and enhance intestinal immunity.In poultry farming,they promote growth performance,egg production rate,and eggshell quality.In aquaculture,they facilitate weight gain,improve feed utilization,and partially replace cholesterol supplementation.Nevertheless,several challenges remain in the practical application of phytosterol(esters),including unclear molecular mechanisms,bioavailability affected by dosage form and feed composition,and insufficient large-scale systematic evaluations on long-term safety and residue risks.This paper reviews the physicochemical properties,biological functions,and research advances in the application of phytosterol(esters)in animal production,thereby providing references for their rational use in animal production.
Keywords：phytosterol(esters)biological characteristicsphysicochemical propertiesnatural plant source
Publication Date：2025-12-16
Online Publishing Date：2026-01-31(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 154-158 )