Unusual trihydroxy bile acids in the urine of healthy humans

The urinary bile acids of 20 adults (aged between 20 and 40 yr), 17 neonates (below 1 week old) and 15 aged men (older than 80 yr old) who were all healthy, were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Frequently, three unusual trihydroxy bile acids, namely hyocholic acid, ursocholic acid and omega-muricholic acid were detected as minor components. Our data further suggest that the metabolism of unusual trihydroxy bile acids in the healthy humans is related to age.