Isolation of an inhibitor of hepatic cholesterolgenesis from human milk

Two preparations active in reducing hepatic cholesterolgenesis in vitro were demonstrated in human milk. These appear to affect the cholesterol synthetic pathway at different loci. One inhibits the synthesis before the formation of mevalonic acid and has been isolated and subsequently identified as uric acid. The other inhibitor has yet to be identified. The apparent paradox of the active component being uric acid, of which high levels are known to cause gout, is discussed.