APOE and atherosclerosis: While increased fecal excretion and reduced intestinal absorption of cholesterol predict a protection against cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis, a study using conventional and GF apolipoprotein (apo) E knockout mice suggests that microbiota prevents atherosclerosis in mice on a regular chow diet and have no impact on atherosclerosis in mice on an extremely high (2%) cholesterol-containing diet50.