Effects of a glucoside-hydrolase inhibitor (Bay g 5421) on serum lipids, lipoproteins and bile acids, fecal fat and bacterial flora, and intestinal gas production in hyperlipidemic patients.

Significant decrease in serum very low density lipoproteins and low density lipoproteins was observed after Bay g 5421 trial (300 mg/day for 6 weeks) in 14 hyperlipidemic patients. Although no significant changes were demonstrated in serum fractions of bile acids, the alteration in the patterns of fecal bacterial flora including the increase in obligate anaerobes was observed after the trial and this was accompanied by the increase in fecal fat excretion. Thus, the possible change in the intestinal bile acid metabolism with the altered flora may lead to an increased catabolism of cholesterol and to the reduction of serum low density lipoproteins. The meteorism developed in several patients but its etiology was shown to be independent of the patterns of the pre-trial bacterial flora and diet composition.