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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
08:42
Using Multi-fluorinated Bile Acids and In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Bile Acid Transport
Published on: November 27, 2016
Bile Acid malabsorption.
1Henrik Westergaard, MD Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-8887, USA. Henrik.Westergaard@utsouthwestern.edu.
Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology
|February 15, 2007
Summary
Bile acid malabsorption causes chronic diarrhea due to excess bile acids in the colon. Treatment depends on severity: bile acid binders for mild cases, and low-fat diets with medium-chain triglycerides for severe cases.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Hepatology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Bile acids are crucial for digestion and are reabsorbed in the distal small intestine.
- Malabsorption leads to excess bile acids in the colon, causing watery diarrhea.
- Common causes include ileal resection, Crohn's disease, and radiation enteritis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the pathophysiology of bile acid malabsorption.
- To differentiate clinical presentations based on severity.
- To outline appropriate treatment strategies for different patient groups.
Main Methods:
- Clinical presentation analysis of patients with chronic diarrhea.
- Review of the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids.
- Correlation of bile acid loss with symptoms and treatment response.
Main Results:
- Mild to moderate bile acid malabsorption presents as watery diarrhea, responsive to bile acid binders like cholestyramine.
- Severe bile acid malabsorption involves both diarrhea and steatorrhea, with cholestyramine being ineffective or detrimental.
- Idiopathic bile acid malabsorption occurs without identifiable ileal disease.
Conclusions:
- Bile acid malabsorption is a significant cause of chronic diarrhea.
- Treatment must be tailored to the severity of bile acid malabsorption.
- Dietary modifications and specific medications are key management strategies.
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