Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Using Multi-fluorinated Bile Acids and In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Bile Acid Transport
Published on: November 27, 2016
Accelerated regional bowel transit and overweight shown in idiopathic bile acid malabsorption
Riadh Sadik1, Hasse Abrahamsson, Kjell-Arne Ung
1Division of Gastroenterology, Institute of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden.
Objective:
Overweight has recently been shown to accelerate small bowel transit. The role of gut transit and body weight in idiopathic bile acid malabsorption (IBAM) is unclear. We have prospectively studied gastrointestinal transit and body mass index (BMI) in patients with IBAM.
Methods:
One hundred and ten patients with chronic diarrhea were prospectively included for transit measurements. All patients underwent a gastroscopy and colonoscopy, 75SeHCAT test for detection of bile acid malabsorption and calculation of BMI. Forty-three patients (15 men) had IBAM. A newly developed radiological procedure was used to measure gastrointestinal transit during one visit. The results were compared to results obtained in 83 healthy subjects.
Results:
Colonic transit in women with IBAM was 0.8 (0.3-1.5) days versus 1.5 (1.0-3.7) days in healthy women (median and percentile 10 and 90; p < 0.0001). In men with IBAM it was 0.8 (0.1-1.0) days; in healthy men it was 1.3 (0.8-1.9) days, p < 0.0001. Segmental colonic transit was accelerated only in the distal colon in men and women with IBAM compared with healthy subjects. Small bowel transit time in women with IBAM was 1.9 (1.1-3.0) h versus 3.3 (1.5-6.3) h in healthy women, p= 0.0002. In men with IBAM it was 2.1 (1.2-3.2) h and 2.5 (1.4-4.3) h in healthy men (p= 0.04). BMI in patients with IBAM was 27.3 (20.4-33.8) kg/m2 and in healthy subjects it was 23.8 (20.5-26.2) kg/m2, p < 0.0001.
Conclusion:
Accelerated small bowel and distal colonic transit as well as overweight are probably involved in the pathophysiology of IBAM.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
01:25Assessment of the Rectum and Anus
Rectal Inspection
Begin by inspecting the perianal and anal areas for color, texture, rashes,...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...