Reducing cholesterol levels

Abstract

A method for reducing the levels of cholesterol and other lipids in mammals, which comprises administering to said mammals an effective amount of a substance having the formula, ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of OH, NHCH 2 COOH and NHCH 2 CH 2 SO 3 H; each X is hydrogen, each Y is hydroxy or acyloxy, and when taken together X and Y is oxo (O═); and the nontoxic pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

What is claimed is: .[.1. The method of reducing lipid levels of human beings, which comprises; 
     
       and the non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof..]. .[.2.  The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is 3α,7α-dihydroxy-5β-cholanic acid..]. .[.3. The method of claim 1, wherein in the compound is administered in a daily dosage amount of about 750 mg. per day..]. .[.4. The method of claim 1, wherein in the 
     
     
        compound each Y is hydroxy..]. .[.5.  The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is 3α,7β-dihydroxy-5β-cholanic acid..]. .[.6. The method of reducing the cholesterol levels of human beings, which comprises; a. orally administering over an extended period of time, to a human being in a hypercholesteremic state;   b. a small but effective amount sufficient to effect a reduction in the cholesterol level of said human being, of a compound of the formula: ##STR4## wherein   R is OH, NHCH 2  COOH, or NHCH 2  CH 2  SO 3  H;   each X is hydrogen;   each Y is hydroxy or acyloxy; and X and Y when taken together is oxo (O═);   
     
     
       and the non-toxic, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof..]. .[.7.  The method of claim 6, wherein the compound is 3α,7α-dihydroxy-5β-cholanic acid..]. .[.8. The method of claim 6 wherein the compound is administered in a daily dosage amount of 750 mg. per day..]. .[.9. The method of claim 5, wherein the hypercholesteremic state of the human being is hypercholesterolemia..]. 
     
     
        .[.0.  The method of claim 6, wherein the compound, each Y is hydroxy..]. .[.11. The method of claim 6, wherein the compound is 3α,7β-dihydroxy-5β-cholanic acid..]. .[.12. The method of reducing the triglyceride levels of human beings, which comprises; a. orally administering over an extended period of time, to a human being in a hypertriglyceridemic state;   b. a small but effective amount sufficient to effect a reduction of the triglyceride level of said human being, of a compound of the formula: ##STR5## wherein R is OH, NHCH 2  COOH, or NHCH 2  CH 2  SO 3  H;   each X is hydrogen;   each Y is hydroxy, or acyloxy, and   X and Y when taken together is oxo (O═); and the non-toxic,   
     
     
        pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof..]. .[.13.  The method of claim 12, wherein the compound is 3α,7α-dihydroxy-5β-cholanic 
     
     
        acid..]. .[.14.  The method of claim 12, wherein the compound is administered in a daily dosage amount of about 750 mg. per day..]. .[.15. The method of claim 12, wherein in the compound, each Y is hydroxy..]. .[.16. The method of claim 12, wherein the compound is 
     
     
        3α,7β-dihydroxy-5β-cholanic acid..]. 17. The method of reducing cholesterol levels of human beings, which comprises; a. Orally administering over an extended period of time, to a human being suffering from cholelithiasis;   b. A small but effective amount sufficient to effect a reduction in the cholesterol level of said human being, of a compound of the formula: ##STR6## wherein R is OH, NHCH 2  COOH or NHCH 2  CH 2  SO 3  H; each X is hydrogen;   each Y is hydroxy or acyloxy; and   X and Y when taken together is oxo (O═); and the non-toxic   
     
     
        pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. .[.18.  The method of claim 17, wherein the compound is 3α,7α-dihydroxy-5β-cholanic acid..]. .[.19. The method of claim 17, wherein the compound is 
     
     
        3α,7β-dihydroxy-5β-cholanic acid..]. .Iadd.20.  The method of claim 17 wherein the compound is administered in a daily dosage amout 
     
     
        of from about 0.5 to 1.5 grams per day. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21.  The method of reducing cholesterol levels of human beings, which comprises: a. Orally administering over an extended period of time, to a human being suffering from cholelithiasis;   b. A small but effective amount sufficient to effect a reduction in the cholesterol level of said human being, of the compound 3α,7β-dihydroxy-5β-cholanic acid, and the non-toxic   
     
     
        pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22.  The method of claim 21 wherein the compound is administered in a daily dosage amount of about 750 milligrams per day. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The method of claim 17 wherein the compound is administered in a daily dosage amount of about 500 to 750 milligrams per day. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The method of claim 17 wherein the compound is administered in a daily dosage amount of about 750 milligrams per day. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The method of claim 21 wherein the compound is administered in a daily dosage amount of from about 0.5 to 1.5 grams per day. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The method of claim 21 wherein the compound is administered in a daily dosage amount of about 500 to 750 milligrams per day. .Iaddend.