Reduction of serum lipides and lipoproteins by ethionine feeding in the dog.

(i) The effects of daily oral administration of 125 mg of DL-ethionine upon the serum lipides and lipoproteins of dogs were studied. (ii) The feeding of the ethionine resulted in a prompt reduction in the levels of serum fatty acids, phospholipides, and cholesterol. See PDF for Figure At the end of 25 days, negligible amounts of these lipides remained in serum. (iii) A reduction in the levels of low- and high-density lipoproteins also resulted from the feeding of ethionine. In general, the extent of reduction in all lipoprotein fractions paralleled that observed in lipides. (iv) The removal of ethionine from the diet led to a prompt restoration of the concentrations of all lipide and lipoprotein constituents to normal.