Goat milk feeding causes an increase in biliary secretion of cholesterol and a decrease in plasma cholesterol levels in rats.

The hypocholesterolemic effect of goat milk with respect to cow milk observed in a previous study led us to examine the influence of goat and cow milk in the diet on certain aspects of biliary physiology in normal rats. The fat content in all diets was 10% but the lipid quality was varied: the standard diet was based on virgin olive oil, and the other 2 diets included fat obtained from lyophilized cow milk and goat milk. We characterized the bile secretion, including biliary phospholipid, cholesterol, and bile acid outputs, the interrelation between bile acids and bile lipids, and the lithogenic index. The consumption of goat milk in the diet, compared with that of cow milk, caused an increase in the biliary secretion of cholesterol together with a decrease in plasma cholesterol concentration, whereas values for bile phospholipids, biliary acid concentrations, and the lithogenic index remained normal. Moreover, consumption of this type of milk decreased plasma triglyceride concentration and therefore had a positive effect, similar to that of olive oil (standard diet), on the lipid metabolism; hence, it may be recommended for consumption by the general population.