bile acid mixture

Bile acid mixture refers to a pharmaceutical or supplement formulation that contains two or more individual bile acids in defined or variable proportions, often used as *bile acid replacement therapy* for bile acid synthesis disorders or as digestive aids. Bile acids (including cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, and others) are endogenous steroid acids produced by the liver and play a critical role in fat digestion and absorption, cholesterol homeostasis, and signaling via activation of specific receptors such as the farnesoid X receptor (FXR). In medical use, bile acid mixtures aim to restore physiologic bile acid pools in patients with genetic or acquired deficiencies, thereby improving fat and fat-soluble vitamin absorption and preventing liver injury due to accumulation of toxic bile acid intermediates. Mechanistically, bile acids act as detergents to emulsify dietary lipids, and as hormone-like signaling molecules regulating metabolic pathways.

Other names

bile acids mixturemixed bile acids