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The Effect of Dietary Corn Oil and Cholesterol Level on the Neutral Steroid Composition in the Large Intestinal Contents of the Rat¹

Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907

The influence of dietary cholesterol and fat on the composition of neutral steroids within the large intestinal contents of rats was investigated. Concentrations and total amounts of cholesterol and its metabolities, coprostanol and coprostanone, were determined in the cecum and colon, initially and after being fed experimental diets for 3, 6 and 9 months. Eight week old rats were fed one of four semipurified diets: 5% corn oil, no cholesterol; 5% corn oil, 1% cholesterol; 20% corn oil, no cholesterol; 20% corn oil, 1% cholesterol. Rats were killed at 2, 5, 8 and 11 months of age corresponding to feeding experimental diets 0, 3, 6 and 9 months. The large intestinal total neutral steroid content slightly decreased with time or rat age, but fraction of cholesterol degradation did not change. A greater concentration of all three neutral steroids was found in the colon contents but a greater total amount in the cecal contents. Fraction of cholesterol degradation was the same in both locations. When cholesterol was fed, more neutral steroids were found in the large intestine. Fraction of cholesterol degradation decreased but a greater absolute amount of cholesterol metabolites was present. The effect of dietary fat levels was complicated by interaction with cholesterol feeding. Without cholesterol feeding a greater concentration of neutral steroids was present in the large intestine of rats fed the higher level of fat. With cholesterol feeding a greater amount of neutral steroid was found in the large intestine of rats fed the 5% fat diet. Fraction of cholesterol degradation was greatest when the 5% fat diet without supplemental cholesterol was fed. Increasing dietary fat to 20% decreased fraction of cholesterol degradation and feeding cholesterol decreased it more. The fraction of cholesterol degradation value was the same regardless of dietary fat level when cholesterol was fed.

KEY WORDS: • cholesterol • neutral steroids • coprostanol • coprostanone • dietary lipids

¹ Purdue University, Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Paper No. 7513.

² Present Address: Department of Foods and Nutrition, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36830.

Manuscript received 5 March 1979.