Diet and cholesterolemia: VII. Effects of methionine, ethionine, and p-fluorophenylalanine*

Abstract

The concentration of serum cholesterol in rats fed a diet containing cholesterol, cholic acid, and hydrogenated coconut oil was reduced when ethionine was included in the diet. This effect was not due to depressed intake of food or of cholesterol. The addition of equal amounts of ethionine and methionine to this diet maintained serum cholesterol at levels significantly below those of rats supplemented with ethionine alone. This addition of methionine also very largely prevented the depression of growth caused by ethionine. Administration of p-fluorophenylalanine lowered the concentration of cholesterol in the serum but β-2-thienylalanine had little effect.