Fecal beta-sitosterol in patients with diverticular disease of the colon and in vegetarians.
Fecal sterol analysis showed that excretion of beta-sitosterol, a major component of poorly absorbable dietary vegetable sterols, is subnormal in patients with diverticular disease of the colon. Thus, the patients had evidently consumed a diet low in plant materials. The finding agrees with the current opinion that diverticular disease of the colon is associated with dietary fibre deficiency and suggests that fecal beta-sitosterol provides a rough measure of the vegetable intake. In vegetarians the beta-sitosterol excretion was actually high.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D004241:Diverticulum, Colon / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000032:analysis*
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D012855:Sitosterols