The effects of amidated pectin (octadecylpectinamide) and cholestyramine on cholesterol homeostasis were compared in rats fed diets supplemented with cholesterol at 10 g/kg. Both sorbents, alone or combined significantly decreased concentrations of cholesterol in the serum and liver. Amidated pectin significantly increased the faecal excretion of neutral sterols, and to a lesser extent also excretion of bile acids. Cholestyramine significantly increased the faecal excretion of bile acids only. Quantitatively, the greatest faecal output of total sterols was found in rats fed both sorbents, however, the increase was statistically non-significant in comparison with output of sterols fed amidated pectin alone.