Question

How does an the inhibition of the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine decreases the cholesterol levels?

Answer 1

• Cholesterol is exclusively found in animals hence called as animal sterol often.
• About 1g cholesterol is synthesized/day in adults.
• Largest contribution in the biosynthesis of cholesterol is from liver(50%),intestine(15%),skin etc.
• Both the role of liver and intestine is very important and have to be balanced for maintaining the Cholesterol levels in the body.
• In case of intestine,it plays major role in regulating the net balance of cholesterol,by serving as site of absorption of dietary Cholesterol as well as reabsorption site of biliary cholesterol.
• for a normal adult intestine absorbs 50% of the cholesterol subjected to it,but varies depending on the individual.
• Considering the absorbed amount only 25% is from the diet,balance is from the bile,together making serum cholesterol.
• it is the intestine that transports this cholesterol in the form of chylomicron remnants to liver.
• liver later undergoes different processes for the absorption and assimilation of Cholesterol ,one is incorporating a small portion of cholesterol into VLDL(very low density lipoproteins )thereby giving rise to LDL particles.etc.
• The body tissues are capable of producing all the needy cholesterol for our body for functions especially like membrane homeostasis,but the liver can only break it down in larger amounts.Unless and until the intestine doesn't transport the cholesterol into the liver ,liver cant do this function,thus the level of cholesterol can decrease significantly depending on the absorption in the intestine as it directly affects the role of liver in cholesterol breakdown.