title: Protective effect of plant sterols against chemically induced colon tumors in rats.
abstract: Diets rich in vegetables are associated with a low incidence of colon cancer. Since plant sterols are plentiful in vegetarian diets, we studied the effect of beta-sitosterol on colon tumor formation in rats treated with the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. We demonstrated that beta-sitosterol nullified in part the effect of this direct-acting carcinogen on the colon. We suggest that plant sterols may have a protective dietary action action to retard colon tumor formation. The beneficial effects of vegetarian diets may be enhanced because of the presence of these compounds.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008770:Methylnitrosourea / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051381:Rats; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D012855:Sitosterols; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D002784:Cholesterol