Bile Acids in Health and Disease

Abstract

Krag E, Thdysen EH. Bile acids in health and disease. Scand J Gastroenterol 1996;31 Suppl 216:73-81. Over the last quarter of a century Danish research on bile acids has comprised studies of their physical and chemical properties, their physiology, pathophysiology, metabolism, and kinetics, and their clinical applicability. In the beginning of the period a major contribution was made to the understanding of the factors involved in the solubility of cholesterol in bile. The growing international understanding of the potential importance of the bile acids in health and disease gave raise to a substantial Danish contribution in the 1970s and 1980s in parallel with international achievements. Emphasis was on the possible clinical implications of bile acids. Studies on physiology and pathophysiology were in focus. Patients who have had an intestinal bypass operation for obesity served as a model for obtaining new knowledge on various aspects of the properties of the bile acids. Also the analytical methods were improved. Important physiological research on the mechanisms of hepatic bile flow was conducted. An intestinal perfusion model served as a tool providing information on absorption kinetics and on transmucosal water and electrolyte movements. The gallstone disease, liver diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, fat malabsorption, and other intestinal disorders were studied. The 'idiopathic ileopathy' as a cause for bile acid malabsorption causing diarrhoea was established as a new disorder. Thus, in the time period concerned, substantial Danish contributions emerged on major and minor topics of the bile acid field. (fax: +45 35 31 39 99) The research on bile acids in health and disease performed by Danes over the past quarter of a century has resulted in more than 130 papers published in international periodicals. BILE, BILIARY LIPIDS, BILE ACIDS, AND GALLSTONES Up to the period concerned, clinical research on bile acids had been moderate. Nevertheless, a fairly substantial Danish contribution was made by the Nobel prize laureate Henrik Dam and his co-workers, who developed a gallstone model in the hamster (1) and later examined human bile as well (2). Scand J Gastroenterol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Nyu Medical Center on 12/14/14 For personal use only.

Small Bowel Review - Part I

“…These remnants may provide a source of endogenous triglyceride fatty acids for the enterocytes. Bile acids: Bile acids are water-soluble and products of cholesterol metabolism that participate in fat digestion in the gastrointestinal tract (168). Bile acids are synthesized in the liver and secreted into the intestine.…”

Malabsorption Syndromes

“…However, they are laborious, need complete fecal recollection and might be difficult in patients with diarrhea. Over the last 10 years, measurement of selenium-75-homocholic acid taurine ( 75 SeHCAT) has been widely employed as a useful and appropriate tool to detect bile acid malabsorption and to monitor response to bile acid chelators (cholestyramine or aluminum hydroxide) in patients with various organic and functional bowel disorders [156][157][158]. 75 SeHCAT, a synthetic analogue of the natural conjugated bile acid taurocholic acid, is considered a good marker of active absorption of bile salts from the terminal ileum and has the advantage of being resistant to bacterial deconjugation when compared to the previously used 14 C-glycocholate and 14 C-taurocholate.…”