chenodeoxycholic acid + cholic acid

Chenodeoxycholic acid + cholic acid is a combination of two primary bile acids, both naturally synthesized in the human liver from cholesterol. This combination is used therapeutically to supplement or replace endogenous bile acids in patients with defects in bile acid synthesis, such as certain peroxisomal disorders and rare metabolic diseases. Both components play essential roles in fat digestion and absorption by forming micelles, regulating cholesterol homeostasis, and modulating lipid metabolism. Chenodeoxycholic acid acts as an agonist at the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), providing negative feedback on bile acid synthesis enzymes like CYP7A1 and HMG CoA reductase, thereby reducing abnormal metabolite accumulation seen in some genetic disorders. Cholic acid also contributes to these physiological processes through similar mechanisms but with distinct receptor affinities and metabolic profiles.