Lithocholic acid: a new emergent protector of intestinal calcium absorption under oxidant conditions

LCA and 1,25(OH)₂D₃ are vitamin D receptor ligands with different binding affinity. The secosteroid stimulates intestinal Ca²⁺ absorption. Whether LCA alters this process remains unknown. The aim of our work was to determine the effect of LCA on intestinal Ca²⁺ absorption in the absence or presence of NaDOC, bile acid that inhibits the cation transport. The data show that LCA by itself did not alter intestinal Ca²⁺ absorption, but prevented the inhibitory effect of NaDOC. The concomitant administration of LCA avoided the reduction of intestinal alkaline phosphatase activity caused by NaDOC. In addition, LCA blocked a decrease caused by NaDOC on gene and protein expression of molecules involved in the transcellular pathway of intestinal Ca²⁺ absorption. The oxidative stress and apoptosis triggered by NaDOC were abrogated by LCA co-treatment. In conclusion, LCA placed in the intestinal lumen protects intestinal Ca²⁺ absorption against the inhibitory effects caused by NaDOC. LCA avoids the reduction of the transcellular Ca²⁺ movement, apparently by blocking the oxidative stress and apoptosis triggered by NaDOC, normalizing the gene and protein expression of molecules involved in Ca²⁺ movement. Therefore, LCA might become a possible treatment to improve intestinal calcium absorption under oxidant conditions.