Cholesterol metabolism in distance runners

Abstract

Faecal steroid excretion, including betasitosterol excretion, whole-body cholesterol synthesis, plasma lipids, and lipoprotein concentrations and habitual diet, were determined in 14 male distance runners and 14 sedentary men. The proportion of cholesterol-derived steroids excreted as bile acids, and the quantity of betasitosterol excreted in the faeces were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in the runners compared with the sedentary men. Faecal betasitosterol excretion and the proportion of cholesterol-derived steroids excreted as bile acids were correlated significantly in the distance runners and the sedentary men (r = 0.774, n = 28, P less than 0.001). These results suggest that greater dietary intake of plant sterols may contribute to the higher proportion of cholesterol-derived steroids excreted as bile acids in distance runners.