Abstract
Diets rich in vegetables are associated with a low incidence of colon cancer. Since plant sterols are plentiful in vegetarian diets, we studied the effect of beta-sitosterol on colon tumor formation in rats treated with the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. We demonstrated that beta-sitosterol nullified in part the effect of this direct-acting carcinogen on the colon. We suggest that plant sterols may have a protective dietary action action to retard colon tumor formation. The beneficial effects of vegetarian diets may be enhanced because of the presence of these compounds.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Bile Acids and Salts / analysis
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Cholesterol / analysis
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Colonic Neoplasms / analysis
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Colonic Neoplasms / chemically induced
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Colonic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
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Diet
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Diet, Vegetarian
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Feces / analysis
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Humans
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Male
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Methylnitrosourea / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Neoplasms, Experimental / prevention & control
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Nitrosourea Compounds / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Rats
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Sitosterols / pharmacology*
Substances
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Bile Acids and Salts
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Nitrosourea Compounds
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Sitosterols
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Methylnitrosourea
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Cholesterol