Bile Acid

Bile acids are steroid acids synthesized in the liver from cholesterol, playing crucial roles in digestion, absorption of dietary fats, cholesterol excretion, and metabolic regulation. They act as detergents to emulsify fats, form micelles for nutrient absorption, and eliminate cholesterol through fecal excretion. Bile acids also exhibit antimicrobial activity, modulate the gut microbiome, and function as signaling molecules by activating nuclear receptors like FXR and membrane receptors like TGR5/GPBAR1. Disorders in bile acid metabolism can lead to various hepatic and systemic diseases. Ursodeoxycholic acid is a therapeutic bile acid used to treat primary biliary cirrhosis.

Other names

Bile SaltsCholic AcidChenodeoxycholic AcidDeoxycholic AcidLithocholic AcidTaurocholateGlycocholateTaurochenodeoxycholateGlycochenodeoxycholate

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is used to treat primary biliary cirrhosis. Other bile acids and their derivatives might target FXR, TGR5/GPBAR1 receptors to modulate metabolism or used to dissolve gallstones.