Cholesterol in serum, liver and small intestine under different dietary compositions

Decrease in serum total cholesterol was noted in albino rats fed with low protein diet. Decrease was also noted in the tissues like liver, duodenum, jejunum and ileum in high protein diet, and jejunum and ileum in low protein diet. There was an increase of serum free cholesterol in low protein diet. All the tissues studied had less free cholesterol in high protein diet. Jejunum showed a decrease in low protein diet also. Serum total cholesterol increased in high fat diet. Free cholesterol increased in both the cases. Tissue total cholesterol was raised in low and high fat diets in liver, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Free cholesterol was raised in duodenum and ileum in both high and low fat diets while that of liver and jejunum was increased only in low fat group.