Faecal sterols and bile acids from six patients with familial adenomatosis coli (FPC) and 61 healthy men were analysed preoperatively. Faecal concentrations and secretion of neutral sterols, plant sterols, and degradation products of cholesterol were identical in the two groups. No increase was found in the faecal bile acid excretion, and the distribution of individual bile acids was normal in FPC. The results suggest that the development of adenomas in FPC is not associated with abnormal cholesterol and bile acid excretion.