Role of the gut microflora in metabolism of lipids and sterols

Abstract

The results of studies on gnotobiotic and conventional animals indicate that intestinal bacteria interfere with absorption of nutrients. The microflora could exert this undesirable activity by a direct action on the gut wall or the gut function, as well as by transformation of a variety of exogenous and endogenous substances into unabsorbable or potentially toxic compounds. This short review provides examples of the effect of intestinal bacteria on metabolism of lipids and sterols,