Effect of Beta-sitosterol on cholesterol-cholic acid-induced gallstone formation in mice.

Beta-sitosterol has been shown to prevent gallstone formation in mice fed 1.2% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid (lithogenic diet). The incidence of gallstone formation in the mouse by the addition of 2.5% sitosterol in the lithogenic diet is about 35.5% in male and 25% in female. The condition of the liver, whether fatty or normal, did not correlate with the presence or absence of cholelithiasis. The serum and liver cholesterol levels of mice fed either sitosterol and cholesterol or sitosterol and cholic acid is lower than those of mice fed cholesterol or cholic acid alone. Elevation of liver phospholipid concentration was noticed in mice fed sitosterol or a combination of sitosterol with cholesterol or cholic acid or both cholesterol and cholic acid.