Examination of intestinal conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol in 633 healthy subjects reveals an age- and sex-dependent pattern

Intestinal cholesterol can be absorbed by the host or converted by the intestinal microbiota. The main metabolite of cholesterol conversion is coprostanol, which is unabsorbable. The aim of the present study was to examine the intestinal microbial conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol in healthy subjects. Cholesterol and coprostanol were determined in faecal samples from individuals living in Norway, Scotland and Sweden and examined for possible relationship to age (50 years old) and gender. The results were expressed as the percentage of coprostanol in the total amount of cholesterol plus coprostanol (coprostanol%). For purposes of classification, subjects were divided in non-converters (