The aim of the proposed project is to prepare hydrophobically modified pectin and chitosan with a high affinity to intestinal sterols. Modified polysaccharides (amidated pectin and palmitoyl chitosan), will by added to a cholesterol-containing diet of rats and their effect on cholesterol concentration in serum and liver, and a faecal output of cholesterol and bile acids will be examined. Further experiments on rats will be carried out to find the optimal dietary concentration of modified polysaccharidesand stability of their hypocholesterolemic effect. The hypocholesterolemic effect of modified polysaccharides will be compared with that of psyllium, which is a well-tried lipid-lowering food supplement. A possible influence on the hepatocellular healthwill be examined as well. Modified polysaccharides may be used as food supplements, over-the-counter cholesterol-lowering agent, or combined with other cholesterol-lowering agents in order to reduce their dosage and diminish adverse gastrointestinal reactions.