Cholesterol metabolism. 7. Cholesterol absorption and excretion in man

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Abstract
Cholesterol in the form of crystalline cholesterol (9.8 g) and as egg cholesterol (6.9 g) was taken by a human subject, and the course of intestinal excretion studied over 3 and 4 days, respectively. Analyses were made of the ether-ethanol extracts of the feces for un-saponifiable matter, for free, total and saturated sterols and for steam-volatile and ether-extractable acids. The crystalline cholesterol was absorbed to the extent of about 15% or about 8 mg/kg body weight/day, and the egg sterol was about 60% absorbed or about 15 mg/kg body weight/day. A transient elevation of the plasma level of cholesterol as esters occurred with the egg sterol. The neutral fraction of the fecal extract was fractionated by chromatography and the main fractions were analyzed. The steam-volatile acids of the fecal extracts from the normal diet and after ingestion of crystalline cholesterol were analyzed and shown to consist mainly of acetic and butyric acids. The ether-extractable acids were fractionated by treatment with light petrolum. The soluble portion was separated into "solid and liquid" acid fractions which were analyzed. The solid acid fractions were separated by reversed-phase chromatography. The course of fecal excretion of lipid was followed, and a review is given of the balance method for studying cholesterol absorption in man.