In experiment 1, rats (n＝6) fed diet containing 10 g/kg cholesterol for 4 wk (control) with either no amaranth (control), amaranth grain (300 g/kg, AG) or amaranth oil (90 g/kg, AO). Both the AG and AO groups had lower concentration of serum and hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride than the controls (p < 0.05). Fecal excretions of cholesterol and bile acid in AO group increased about 4 fold and 2 fold, respectively, while AG affected only bile acid excretion (p < 0.05). In experiment 2, rats (n＝6) were fed the cholesterol diet for 4 wk and injected intraperitoneally with saline (control) or amaranth squalene (AS) for 7d. The hypolipidemic effect of AS was evident in both serum and liver. Fecal excretions of cholesterol and bile acid were greater (p < 0.05) in AS than control. HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A) reductase activity was reduced in AS group (11.6%, p=0.13). This study suggests that the cholesterol-lowering effect of AS is mediated by greater fecal elimination of steroids through interference with cholesterol absorption.