Inhibitors of sterol synthesis. Hypocholesterolemic action of dietary 9α-Fluoro-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-3β-ol-15-one

9α-Fluoro-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-3β-ol-15-one, at a level of 0.15% in a laboratory chow diet, has been shown to have a significant hypocholesterolemic effect in normal rats. The mean serum cholesterol level (mg per 100 ml ± S.E.M.) decreased from 84.5 ± 1.5 to 53.3 ± 3.0, 54.1 ± 3.2, and 60.5 ± 2.6 after 5, 9, and 12 days, respectively, on the steroid-containing diet. The effects of the 9α-fluoro-15-ketosterol on serum cholesterol levels were significantly different from those of either ad libitum or pair-fed controls. The diet containing the steroid caused a significant decrease in food consumption which was associated with a decrease in the rate of gain in body weight.