The cholesterol metabolite cholest-4-en-3-one and its 3-oxo derivatives suppress body weight gain, body fat accumulation and serum lipid concentration in mice

Based on the findings that cholest-4-en-3-one, an intestinal metabolite of cholesterol, has an anti-obesity effect on animals, the structure-effect relationship of its 3-oxo derivatives and related compounds were investigated. Cholesten-3-ones, which possesses an enone structure with a carbonyl group at C3, markedly inhibit body weight gain and body fat accumulation, as well as the levels of serum triglyceride and cholesterol in animals without any clinical abnormalities. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.