Polymerization products containing amino groups useful in serum cholesterol level control

A pharmaceutical product for oral administration to mammals and birds having an elevated serum cholesterol level in their blood, which product contains a physiologically acceptable carrier and a cholesterol lowering amount of a waterinsoluble polymer containing amino groups and which polymer

• a. contains residues of one or more diamines of the formula
• H.sub.2 H.CH.sub.2.phenylene.CH.sub.2.NH.sub.2 (I)
• which residues are held together by bridges between the residues to form a three-dimensional network, the bridges being bound to nitrogen atoms in the residues (I) and comprising straight or branched aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon chains substituted with one to four hydroxyl groups and containing 3 - 16 carbon atoms, and which are unbroken or broken by one to four oxygen atoms, the amino groups being present in a free form or in the form of the cation portion of a non-toxic salt, and
• b. is insoluble in water but swellable in water to a gel, 1 g of the dry polymer in the form of the hydrochloride in the presence of the water swelling to a volume within the range of from 5 to 50 ml, inclusive, and
• c. is in grain form having a particle size within the range of 10 to 800 .mu., and
• d. has an ion-exchange capacity within the range of 0.3 to 0.9 milliequivalent chloride ions per 100 mg of dry gel.

A method of lowering the cholesterol content of the blood of mammals and birds having an elevated serum cholesterol level, said method consisting essentially of the oral administration of a physiologically acceptable carrier and a cholesterol lower amount of a polymer containing amino groups and which polymer

• a. is formed of residues of one or more diamines of the formula
• H.sub.2 N.CH.sub.2.phenylene.CH.sub.2. NH.sub.2
• which residues are held together by bridges between the residues to form a three-dimensional network, the bridges being bound to nitrogen atoms in the residues (I) and comprising straight or branched aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon chains substituted with one to four hydroxyl groups and containing 3 - 16 carbon atoms, and which are unbroken or broken by one to four oxygen atoms, the amino groups being present in either a free form or in the form of the cation portion of a non-toxic salt, and
• b. is insoluble in water but swellable in water to a gel, 1 g of the dry polymer in the form of the hydrochloride in the presence of the water swelling to a volume within the range of from 5 to 50 ml, inclusive, and
• c. comprises grains having a particle size within the range of 1 to 1000 .mu., and
• d. has a ion-exchange capacity within the range of 0.2 to 1 milliequivalent chloride ions per 100 my of dry gel.

A method of lowering the cholesterol content of the blood of mammals and birds having an elevated serum cholesterol level said method consisting essentially of the oral administration of a physiologically active carrier and a cholesterol lowering amount of a polymer containing amino groups and which polymer

• a. is formed of residues of one or more diamines of the formula
• H.sub.2 N.CH.sub.2.phenylene.CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 (I)
• which residues are held together by bridges between the residues to form a three-dimensional network, the bridges being bound to nitrogen atoms in the residues (I) and comprising straight or branched aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon chains substituted with one to four hydroxyl groups and containing 3 - 16 carbon atoms, and which are unbroken or broken by 1 to 4 oxygen atoms, the amino groups being present in either a free form or in the form of the cation portion of a non-toxic salt, and
• b. is insoluble in water but swellable in water to a gel, 1 g of the dry polymer in the form of the hydrochloride in the presence of the water swelling to a volume within the range of from 5 to 50 ml, inclusive, and
• c. comprises grains having a particle size within the range of 10 to 800 .mu., and
• d. has an ion-exchange capacity within the range of 0.3 to 0.9 milliequivalent chloride ion per 100 mg of dry gel.