A few recent publications indicate that even moderately elevated plasma plant sterol levels might be associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis.
PMID 15599566
Just to make it clear about Beta Sitosterol and atherosclerosis risk. This applies only to persons with homozygous sitosterolemia, this is a rare condition. "But especially young patients suffering from xanthomatosis and/or atherosclerotic diseases with only mildly or moderately elevated plasma cholesterol should be screened for sitosterolemia by measurement of plasma plant sterol levels." Quote is from the quoted link. It is worthwhile sometimes reading the abstracts.
