Lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in cholestyramine-fed rats.

In rats fed semipurified diets, increasing amounts of dietary cholestyramine counteracted the effects of dietary cholesterol on plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations. These effects were associated with increasing rates of fecal bile acid excretion. Cholestyramine caused an increase in plasma triglyceride concentrations, and increased the ratio of triglycerides to cholesterol in plasma. The anion resin did not influence plasma glucose concentrations and blood concentration of acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate and lactate. Thus cholestyramine specifically affects cholesterol metabolism and plasma triglyceride concentrations without influencing other metabolites of fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism.