The isotopic dilution method, which permits the in vivo measurements of the rates of the processes involved in cholesterol turnover, has been applied to rats fed a commercial stock diet or a basal semipurified diet in which either the nature and proportions of the source of dietary fiber or the salt mixture were changed. The cholesterolemia was about 100 mg/100 g in rats fed agar-agar, cellulose, bran or the stock diet. Pectin addition (5%) lowered significantly the plasma concentration of cholesterol (70 mg/100 g). Changes in the source of dietary fiber or salt mixture have moderate effects on the absorption coefficient of dietary cholesterol (range 58.2%-82%). In comparison to agar-agar, cellulose at 2.3% in the diet significantly lowered this coefficient, but larger amounts of cellulose (6.8% or 12.3%), or pectin (5%) were without effect, while bran addition (10%) tended to slightly decrease cholesterol absorption. Hence, high levels of cellulose in the diet increased the absorption coefficient in comparison to a low cellulose diet. A decrease of this coefficient was also observed when the calcium content of the diet was increased. Cholesterol biosynthesis and fecal excretion were inversely correlated to the absorption coefficient of dietary cholesterol in rats fed all of the semipurified diets indicating, as previously shown, that the intestine was the major source of biosynthesized cholesterol diverted into the plasma. However, feeding a commercial stock diet greatly increased the cholesterogenesis and the fecal elimination of bile acids, suggesting a high hepatic cholesterogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Controlled trial of chenodeoxycholic therapy for radiolucent gallstones. A multicenter study.

134 patients with radiolucent gallstones were randomly allocated to receive either placebo or 1 of 3 different doses of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA); 750, 1,500, or 3,000 mg). The initial dose was lowered if not well tolerated. 107 patients were treated for more than 3 months. Among them, stones dissolved in 21 and were smaller in 25 patients. Partial or complete dissolution occurred in 4 of the 13 receiving 375 mg/day, 14 of 37 receiving 750 mg, 24 of the 38 receiving 1,500 mg and 4 of 8 receiving 3,000 mg/day. The number of responders to the therapy was significantly greater in the groups of patients receiving 1,500 mg/day or 17-24 mg/kg body weight than in any other group. However, side effects, i.e., diarrhea and transaminase increase, are also dose related. It appears from this study that the optimal dose of CDCA may be between 17 and 20 mg/kg body weight.

Adult↗

PubMed1977