Increased Excretion of Fecal Bile Acids by an Oral Hydrophilic Colloid ∗

Abstract

Summary

An oral hydrophilic colloid (9.6 gm/day), after a 4-week preexperimental control period, was fed for a 6-week experimental period to 2 normally active young adult males on a self-selected mixed diet, with the following results: Total fecal bile acids per 24 hours obtained during the experimental period averaged 3 times (302%) the excretion level of the control period. Serum cholesterol levels during the experimental period averaged 17% lower than during the control period. These differences were statistically highly significant by t test (p < 0.005). Total neutral sterol excretion per 24 hours in the experimental period was unchanged from the values measured during the control period. The mechanism by which the mucilloid increases fecal bile acid excretion is unknown.