cytellin and Diverticulum--Colon

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.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Diet, Vegetarian; Dietary Fiber; Diverticulum, Colon; Feces; Humans; Middle Aged; Sitosterols