Table 1: Results of serum, fecal, liver and colonic samples analysis from different experimental groups.

	CN	CNDMH	CHOL	CHOLDMH
Initial weight (g)	180 ± 6	166 ± 7	147 ± 7	152 ± 3
Final weight (g)	314 ± 9	297 ± 16	291 ± 16	296 ± 7
Gain weight (g)	134 ± 7	149 ± 7	146 ± 8	144 ± 7
Triglycerides (mg/dl)	82 ± 4	59 ± 4*	85 ± 7	58 ± 5*
Total cholesterol (mg/dl)	128 ± 8	123 ± 8	111 ± 5	105 ± 7
HDL-cholesterol (mg/dl)	36 ± 3	37 ± 2	36 ± 2	34 ± 1
Hepatic cholesterol (mg/dl)	31 ± 2	37 ± 3	35 ± 3	33 ± 2
Fecal Cholesterol (mg/dl)	34 ± 5	24 ± 3	66 ± 3**	69 ± 5++
Bifidobacteria (UFC/g)	4.35 ± 3.39×10^10	8.37 ± 3.10×10^10	9.39 ± 3.64×10^10	4.48 ± 2.81×10^10
Fecal pH	7.0 ± 0.3	7.2 ± 0.3	6.5 ± 0.1	7.1 ± 0.3*
PCNA (%)	5.76 ± 0.91	16.20 ± 1.70	8.44 ± 0.23	20.48 ± 0.37++
ACF/field	0	0.68 ± 0.16	0	0.41 ± 0.50
(AC/ACF)	0	2.52 ± 0.33	0	2.11 ± 0.21

Results are expressed as mean ± standard error. * p < 0.01, compared to the group treated with the respective diet without DMH; **compared to CN group; ++compared to CNDMH group. Standard diet (CN); standard diet + cholesterol 1% (CHOL); standard diet + DMH (CNDMH) and standard diet + cholesterol 1%+ DMH (CHOLDMH). PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen), ACF (Aberrant crypt foci) and AC/ACF (aberrant crypt/aberrant crypt foci).