Cholesterol synthesis in the small intestine of patients with malabsorption syndrome.

Cholesterol synthesis was studied in intestinal biopsies obtained from children with different forms of malabsorption syndrome. It was demonstrated that intestinal cholesterol synthesis is enhanced in celiac disease and several other forms of malabsorption syndrome. Mevinolin inhibited intestinal cholesterol synthesis in all groups of patients. No correlation was found between cholesterol synthesis and age and sex of the patients, clinical manifestation of the disease and plasma cholesterol level.