Cholesterol metabolism. 6. The fate of ingested cholesterol in the intact rat

Abstract

The fecal excretion of lipid and the deposition of lipid in livers of rats fed diets containing cholesterol without and with added fat was investigated. The total steam-volatile acids and their components formed on low-and on high-fiber containing diets were studied. The livers were analyzed for un-saponifiable matter, sterol and ether-extractable acids. From a balance of the total amounts ingested and excreted, the values for sterol and acid excretion are calculated per kilogram body weight and as a percentage of ingested cholesterol. More cholesterol is absorbed when added fat is present in the diet, but the conversion into saturated sterols is greater on the low-fat diet. The conversion of cholesterol into non-digitonin precipitable neutral compounds and into acids soluble in light petroleum is greater on the added fat diet. The conversion in- to light petroleum-insoluble acids which are mainly ketonic bile acids is of the same order with both diets.