Evaluation of methods for the determination of cholesterol absorption and synthesis in humans

Cardiovascular disease risk and its associated complications correlate positively with circulating cholesterol levels. Plasma cholesterol levels are maintained by reciprocally related endogenous cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol absorption from dietary and biliary sources. Numerous in vivo clinical methods exist to quantify the absorption and synthesis of cholesterol in humans. This review summarizes these different methods available to study cholesterol absorption and synthesis, highlighting each method's strengths and weaknesses, as well as their applicability in different types of trials.