NUTRITIONAL-REQUIREMENTS OF INFANTS AND CHILDREN WITH RESPECT TO CHOLESTEROL AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS

Cholesterol is an enigmatic, essential metabolite. Breast milk contain s significant quantities of cholesterol, yet human infants thrive on c holesterol-free diets. Recommendations to lower serum cholesterol are widespread, yet low serum cholesterol is associated with poorly unders tood morbidity. Serum cholesterol is increased with diets high in fat, yet dietary cholesterol has relatively little effect on serum concent rations. Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, marked with extremely low serum c holesterol, may serve as a human model for the evaluation of absorptio n and metabolism of dietary cholesterol. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.