[Changes in the sterol content of soybean oil after its thermal processing]

A study was made of alterations in the composition of soybean oil sterols after thermal treatment. It was established that in heat-exposed oils, the content of total sterols dropped 20 to 50%. Analysis of a sample of free sterols from soybean oil heated for 13 h demonstrated a slight decrease in the content of stigmast-5-en-3 beta-ol at the expense of a rise in the concentration of delta 5-avenasterol, citrostadienol, and 24-methylene cycloartanol.