Type and Quantity of 3 β-Hydroxysterols Excreted by Subjects Subsisting on Formula Rations High in Corn Oil

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A normal and a diabetic subject were given a fat-free formula diet for 8 days and then continued for a similar period of time with a ration providing corn oil at a level of 60% of calories in place of an equicaloric amount of carbohydrate. By a differential-spectrophotometric system of analysis, 3 β-hydroxysterols excreted in the feces during the last 4 days of each regimen were determined. During the corn oil regimen, total 3 β-hydroxysterols in feces increased 11- and 17-fold, respectively; β- plus γ-sitosterol accounted for about 80% of the sitosterol intake and comprised about 60% of the 3 β-hydroxysterol output. Cholesterol excretion increased four- and fivefold. In the case of the diabetic subject, this was accompanied by a tenfold increase in the elimination of coprostanol. These data demonstrate that endogenously derived sterols contribute to the well-known increase in fecal unsaponifiable matter observed during the consumption of vegetable fats of high plant sterol content. This observation, considered in the light of the decrease in plasma cholesterol observed when corn oil is added to a fat-free diet, suggests a cause and effect relationship between the 2 observations.