Research progress on biological activity and delivery system of phytosterol esters

Phytosterol esters have many physiological functions such as cholesterol-lowering, anti-oxidation, and anti-cardiovascular disease. However, their poor chemical stability, poor water solubility, and low bioavailability limit their application in the fields of food, medicine, and cosmetics. Therefore, it is of great importance to select a suitable delivery system for its delivery to broaden its application. In this paper, the physical and chemical properties and biological activities of phytosterol esters were summarized, and the research progress of various delivery systems for the delivery of phytosterol esters was reviewed. Some problems and improvement methods of the existing delivery systems were put forward, which is helpful for providing new ideas for the research of new delivery systems of phytosterol esters.