Abstract
Background: Fecal bile acid and neutral sterol excretion are the obligate endpoints of the reverse cholesterol transport pathway (RCT). In studies in mice, no evidence was found for a relation between HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) levels and fecal sterol excretion. In this study, we have evaluated this relationship in patients with isolated low HDL-c versus controls. Results: Fecal sterol excretion was studied in 12 subjects with familial hypoalphalipoproteinemia (FHA) and 11 healthy controls. Compared to the controls (8.9 +/- 6.3 mg/kg/day), neutral sterol excretion was significantly lower in the FHA group (4.0 +/- 2.4 mg/kg/day). Fecal bile acid excretion showed a similar pattern. Across the groups, a strong positive correlation between HDL-c and fecal neutral sterol excretion was found (r = 0.53; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Isolated low HDL-c levels in humans are associated with reduced fecal sterol excretion suggesting that in humans HDL regulates the final step in the RCT pathway at low HDL-c levels. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 614-616 |
Journal | Atherosclerosis |
Volume | 207 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2009 |