Endogenous excretion and capacity to absorb dietary cholesterol in the chicken

Abstract

The endogenous fecal elimination of cholesterol in 12 1900-gm (av.) White Leghorn cockerels 14–16 weeks of age kept on a cholesterol-free diet containing 3% cottonseed oil was found to be 20 mg/day, when corrected for the intake of phytosterol. The intestinal capacity to absorb dietary cholesterol under these conditions was found to be 210 mg/day in 12 2100-gm (av.) cockerels 16–21 weeks of age when fed 916, 920 or 1145 mg/day each day for 7 days. The capacity to absorb was the same when the average weight was 1900 gm and 2400 gm, indicating that the intestine had become mature when the cockerels weighed an average of 1900 gm. The serum cholesterol concentration was significantly increased after the ingestion of 85 mg of cholesterol a day for 7 days; this amount was four times greater than the endogenous fecal excretion.