THE SERUM CHOLESTEROL AND OTHER LIPIDS AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF SITOSTEROL

Abstract

The role of cholesterol in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has been the subject of much investigation in recent years. The present position has been extensively reviewed by Page (1954) and Katz and Stamler (1953). In coronary artery disease a significant elevation of the plasma cholesterol and of the plasma-cholesterol/phospholipid ratio has been noted (Oliver and Boyd, 1953). The incidence of atherosclerosis has been found to be increased in countries where the diet contains a high total of fats and excessive calories (Keys, 1952). High dietary fat facilitates cholesterol absorption and vice versa (Kim and Ivy, 1952; Melinkoff et al., 1950), but rigid exclusion of the fat from the diet is difficult and unacceptable to the patient. Search for other methods of reducing the blood lipids has proceeded and plant phytosterols have been reported as reducing the serum total cholesterol and changing the other serum lipids.