[Effect of beta-sitosterol incorporated into liposomes on several indicators of lipid metabolism in experimental hypercholesteremia in rats].

Alterations in lipid content of microvilli membranes, affecting their physical structure, as well as in lipoproteins of rat small intestinal mucosa and of blood plasma were studied in experimental hypercholesterolemia after treatment with crystalline and liposomal preparations of beta-sitosterol. The liposomal preparation of beta-sitosterol exhibited distinctly higher hypocholesterolemic activity as compared with the crystalline sterol. Possible role of structural and functional alterations in enterocyte membranes and in intestinal lipoproteins during absorption of cholesterol as well as inhibition of the processes by means of beta-sitosterol are discussed.