SERUM-CHOLESTEROL REDUCTION AND CHOLESTEROL ABSORPTION INHIBITION IN CACO-2 CELLS BY A SOYPROTEIN PEPTIC HYDROLYZATE

The serum cholesterol level in rats was significantly decreased in a g roup fed on a soyprotein peptic hydrolyzate (SPH) when compared,vith a group fed on a casein tryptic hydrolyzate (CTH). The fecal excretion of total steroids was significantly greater with rats fed on the SPH d iet when compared with the CTH diet. The results of CaCo-2 studies cle arly suggest that the suppression of cholesterol absorption in the int estinal epithelia is part of the mechanism for the hypocholesterolemic action induced by SPH.