In general , markers for cholesterol absorption and synthesis displayed reciprocal patterns , showing that cholesterol metabolism is tightly regulated by the interplay of intestinal absorption and endogenous synthesis .
Distinctive patterns for cholesterol absorption or cholesterol synthesis could be identified , suggesting that metabolic disorders can be classified as ' cholesterol absorbers or cholesterol synthesizers ' .
Non-cholesterol sterols are vali date d biomarkers for intestinal cholesterol absorption and endogenous cholesterol synthesis .
However , their use in metabolic disturbances has not been systematic ally explored .
Therefore , we conducted a systematic review to provide an overview of non-cholesterol sterols as markers for cholesterol metabolism in different metabolic disorders .
Circulating markers for biosynthesis of cholesterol and bile acids are not depressed in asymptomatic gallstone subjects.
BACKGROUND / AIMS Cholesterol gallstone disease is often associated with an increased biliary secretion rate of cholesterol , which may be due to abnormalities in hepatic cholesterol metabolism . The aim of the present study was to investigate whether gallstone subjects may have an underlying defect in hepatic cholesterol and bile acid formation . METHODS In 41 asymptomatic gallstone subjects , r and omly selected from a population of both sexes 40 and 60 years of age , and in 72 age- and sex-matched controls , plasma levels of lathosterol ( reflecting hepatic HMG CoA reductase activity ) and 7alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one ( reflecting cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase activity ) were analysed . In a subgroup of gallstone subjects and controls , plasma levels of 27-hydroxy cholesterol were also determined . RESULTS The gallstone subjects had normal plasma levels of cholesterol but displayed 20 - 25 % higher plasma levels of triglycerides compared with the controls . The plasma level of lathosterol was not significantly different between the two groups of subjects whereas the plasma level of 7alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one was about 40 % higher in the gallstone subjects compared with the controls . Positive correlations were obtained between plasma levels of 7alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one and triglycerides in both groups of subjects . The plasma level of 27-hydroxy cholesterol was similar in gallstone subjects and controls . CONCLUSIONS The previously reported hypersecretion of cholesterol in gallstone patients is not due to a single metabolic defect leading to increased hepatic synthesis of cholesterol or decreased catabolism of cholesterol to bile acids via 7alpha-hydroxylation or 27-hydroxylation of cholesterol
In general , markers for cholesterol absorption and synthesis displayed reciprocal patterns , showing that cholesterol metabolism is tightly regulated by the interplay of intestinal absorption and endogenous synthesis .
Distinctive patterns for cholesterol absorption or cholesterol synthesis could be identified , suggesting that metabolic disorders can be classified as ' cholesterol absorbers or cholesterol synthesizers ' .
Non-cholesterol sterols are vali date d biomarkers for intestinal cholesterol absorption and endogenous cholesterol synthesis .
However , their use in metabolic disturbances has not been systematic ally explored .
Therefore , we conducted a systematic review to provide an overview of non-cholesterol sterols as markers for cholesterol metabolism in different metabolic disorders .