Diurnal patterns of the concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, nonprotein nitrogen and urea in the serum of veal calves fed a milk replacer supplemented with cholesterol.

Veal calves (aged about 9 weeks; three animals per group) were fed twice a day liquid diets containing 60% skim milk powder and 20% crude fat (w/w) for 7.5 weeks. Addition of 1% cholesterol to the diet, at the expense of fat, caused a 70% increase in the level of serum cholesterol. Both in the control and cholesterol-fed calves, no diurnal rhythm in the concentration of cholesterol in the serum was observed. Serum triglycerides were not clearly elevated after feeding, but a steady increase during the day was observed, the increase being similar in both dietary groups. Cholesterol feeding seemed to induce lower postprandial levels of urea and higher levels of amino acid nitrogen, but this was only observed after feeding in the morning (8.00 a.m.), but not after feeding in the evening (8.00 p.m.). Dietary cholesterol significantly elevated postprandial glucose levels in veal calves. It is suggested that hypercholesterolemia effects an impaired glucose tolerance, possibly also in man.