<prompt> If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patients description.Beta-sitosterol I see that it used for reducing inflammation for different maladies how effective is it for , emptying the bladder reducing frequent bathroom visits, the size of prostate emptying the bladder, reduction of cholesterol compared to statins and helping the inflammation in people with osteo- arthritis. Are the claims like so many other supplements all hype or is there any validity. Thank you for an honest response, MJO  <response>: Hi, Thanks for posting in Chat Doctor. I understand your concern. Here are some of the details about the medication which you have asked for. Beta-sitosterol is one of several phytosterols sterols from plant origin with chemical structures similar to that of cholesterol. It is shown to have the following effects: 1. Cholesterol lowering effects. 2. Immunomodulator action. 3. Anti-inflammatory effects. Hence, beta-sitosterol is used for heart disease, high cholesterol, preventing colon cancer, gallstones, the common cold and flu influenza, HIVAIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, psoriasis, allergies, cervical cancer, fibromyalgia, systemic lupus erythematous SHE, asthma, hair loss, bronchitis, migraine headache and chronic fatigue syn Chat Doctor. Some men use beta-sitosterol for enlarged prostate benign prostatic hyperplasia and some women use it for symptoms of menopause. However, more clinical studies are needed to verify the benefits of beta-sitosterol in the conditions which it has been used. Hope the information provided would be helpful. All the best. 