S Keller1. 1. Department of Nutritional Physiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany. Sylvia.Keller@uni-jena.de
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Analyzing faecal sterol concentrations in humans, subjects with a strongly decreased faecal cholesterol conversion were identified. The reasons and outcomes of this phenomenon have not been sufficiently investigated because of the complexity of the host-microflora interactions. SUBJECTS/ METHODS: To evaluate differences between cholesterol high and low converters, the sterol excretion and faeces attributes of 320 healthy subjects (213 women, 107 men) were analyzed. Two different cut-off levels classifying cholesterol high and low converters were tested (level 1: conversion rate <30%; level 2: 50th percentile). RESULTS: In both test models the faeces attributes differ significantly in a lower pH value and a lower faecal dry matter of the low converters in comparison with the high converters. CONCLUSIONS: These findings in faeces may reflect the conditions in the colon and can be a reason for the decreased bacterial growth and/or activity of cholesterol-reducing bacteria in the colonic microflora.
BACKGROUND: Analyzing faecal sterol concentrations in humans, subjects with a strongly decreased faecal cholesterol conversion were identified. The reasons and outcomes of this phenomenon have not been sufficiently investigated because of the complexity of the host-microflora interactions. SUBJECTS/ METHODS: To evaluate differences between cholesterol high and low converters, the sterol excretion and faeces attributes of 320 healthy subjects (213 women, 107 men) were analyzed. Two different cut-off levels classifying cholesterol high and low converters were tested (level 1: conversion rate <30%; level 2: 50th percentile). RESULTS: In both test models the faeces attributes differ significantly in a lower pH value and a lower faecal dry matter of the low converters in comparison with the high converters. CONCLUSIONS: These findings in faeces may reflect the conditions in the colon and can be a reason for the decreased bacterial growth and/or activity of cholesterol-reducing bacteria in the colonic microflora.