The content of phytosterol oxidation products (POPs) in enriched and nonenriched commercial spreadswas evaluated by thin-layer chromatography-gas chromatography (TLC-GC). Oxides of
-sitosterol,campesterol, and stigmasterol were produced by thermo-oxidation (7-hydroxy, 7-keto, and epoxyderivatives) and chemical synthesis (triol derivatives), which were then separated and identified byTLC-GC. Their identification was further confirmed by GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The totalamounts of phytosterols found were 6.07 and 0.33 g/100 g of sample in phytosterol-enriched andnonenriched spread, respectively, whereas the total POPs contents were 45.60 and 13.31 mg/kg ofsample in the enriched and nonenriched products. The main POPs found were the 7-keto derivativesof all phytosterols analyzed; 7-ketositosterol was the most abundant one (14.96 and 5.93 mg/kg ofsample in phytosterol-enriched and nonenriched spread). No
-epoxy and triol derivatives weredetected in both types of samples. The enriched spread presented a lower phytosterol oxidation rate(0.07%) than the nonenriched one (0.41%).Keywords: Phytosterol-enriched spread; phytosterols oxidation products; functional foods