Conjugated bile acids (CBA)

Conjugated bile acids are steroid-based molecules synthesized from cholesterol in the liver and subsequently linked to glycine or taurine to enhance their water solubility and surfactant properties (StatPearls, 2023). Their primary biological role is the emulsification of dietary fats and the facilitation of fat-soluble vitamin absorption within the small intestine (NIH, 2022). Beyond their digestive functions, conjugated bile acids serve as critical signaling ligands for receptors such as the Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) and the G protein-coupled bile acid receptor (TGR5), influencing systemic lipid and glucose metabolism (Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2017). Pathological accumulation or malabsorption of these acids is linked to conditions like cholestasis, bile acid diarrhea, and hypercholesterolemia. Pharmacological intervention often involves the use of bile acid sequestrants, which physically bind these acids in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent their reabsorption, thereby lowering LDL cholesterol and alleviating symptoms of bile acid-mediated pruritus (FDA, 2021).

Other names

Bile saltsGlycine-conjugated bile acidsTaurine-conjugated bile acidsGlycoconjugates of bile acidsTauroconjugates of bile acids

Bile acid sequestration in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent enterohepatic recirculation and promote fecal excretion.