The hypochalesterolemic effect of a hemicellulose preparation isolated from defatted rice bran (RBH) was compared with that of high-methoxylated pectin (HMP). The serum cholesterol concen tration, cholesterol absorption from the small intestine, liver cholesterol accumulation, and excretion of fecal steroids were determined in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet containing either RBH or HMP at the 2% level for 9 days. Both RBH and HMP suppressed the elevation of serum cholesterol levels. The present results indicated that the hypocholesterolemic mechanism of RBH was different from that of HMP, since : 1) RBH did not suppress dietary cholesterol absorption and liver cholesterol accumulation, but facilitated the excretion of acidic steraid rather than neutral steroid. 2) HMP depressed dietary cholesterol absorption and liver cholesterol accumulation, but did not facilitate the excretion of acidic steroid. These results indicate that the mechanism of the hypocholesterolemic effect of RBH involves on increase in excretion of total bile acids, whereas that of HMP is due to the prevention of dietary cholesterol absorption from the small intestine.