STEROLS Sterols belong to the steroid family of compounds, next to the bile acids, sex hormones, the hormones of the adrenal cortex, and the cardiac aglycones. They are found in almost all tissues of animals and plants. Cholesterol is one of the most commonly known sterols. In plants, the specific name used is phytosterols. Phytosterols are an important component of the deodoriser distillate, obtained during the deodorisation of fats and oils. Each individual oil or fat leads to a specific composition of different phytosterols, such as tocopherols.