The hypocholesterolizing effect of gallogen and its potentiation by soybean sterols.

THE purpose of this communication is to report on the value of Gallogen* alone and in combination with soybean sterol in the treatment of experimentally induced atherosclerosis. Peterson and co-workers observed that the addition of soybean sterols to the diet of chicks, on a high fat-high cholesterol diet, lowers cholesterol levels in blood and liver more than when the soybean sterols were omitted. This observation has been elaborated upon and confirmed by these same workers. Hernandez and co-workersworking with rats fed C-labeled cholesterol, reported that either soybean sterols or /S-sitosterol reduce the recovery of radioactive cholesterol and esterified cholesterol from the lymphatic duct. Alfm-Slater and co-workers found that plant sterols have no effect on the plasma cholesterol levels in cholesterol-fed rats, but reduce the total lipids and total cholesterol of the liver. Pollak has reported successful prevention of induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in the rabbit and significant reductions of blood cholesterol levels in man by the use of soybean sterols. Other workers'" have confirmed and prolonged the lowering of human blood cholesterol levels by sufficient soybean sterols or /3-sitosterol.