Most formulators are already familiar with phytosterols. Their role in supporting healthy cholesterol levels is well established, and regulatory agencies including the FDA and EFSA recognize health claims for phytosterols when products meet the required conditions of use.
What continues to evolve, however, is how phytosterols are formulated.
Conventional phytosterols are limited by poor water solubility, which can affect how they disperse and interact within the digestive tract. Caresterol™ builds on the established science behind phytosterols by applying patented cocrystal technology to address this long-standing formulation challenge.
Why Solubility Matters
Water solubility is an important consideration for many bioactive ingredients. While phytosterols have demonstrated efficacy, their limited solubility has long been recognized as a technical limitation. Improving this property may enhance how the ingredient performs during digestion while providing formulators with greater flexibility during product development.
Caresterol™ was developed using patented cocrystal technology to increase water solubility sevenfold compared to conventional phytosterols. This advancement builds on established phytosterol science rather than replacing it, offering a new way to optimize an ingredient category that has been trusted for decades.
The Role of Cocrystal Technology
A cocrystal is a solid-state structure in which two molecules are arranged within the same crystal lattice. In ingredient development, cocrystal engineering is used to modify physical properties such as solubility and dissolution behavior without changing the chemical identity of the active ingredient.
Caresterol™ combines a natural blend of pine-derived phytosterols with propionic acid using this patented approach. The result is a phytosterol ingredient developed to improve water solubility and biological accessibility while maintaining the established mechanism of action associated with phytosterols.
A New Approach to Phytosterol Formulation
As the cholesterol-support category continues to mature, differentiation increasingly comes from ingredient technology rather than the ingredient itself. Caresterol™ offers manufacturers an opportunity to formulate with a patented phytosterol ingredient backed by established science while incorporating an innovative delivery approach.
Interested in learning more? Download the Caresterol™ White Paper to explore the technology, supporting research, and formulation applications in greater detail.