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Updated: Jul 10, 2025
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Using Multi-fluorinated Bile Acids and In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Bile Acid Transport
Published on: November 27, 2016
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Altered fecal bile acid composition in active ulcerative colitis
Stefanie Sommersberger1, Stefan Gunawan1, Tanja Elger1
1Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Lipids in Health and Disease
|November 19, 2023
Summary
Fecal bile acids show altered levels in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), with specific changes in ulcerative colitis (UC) linked to disease severity and diarrhea. These findings may help differentiate IBD subtypes and understand UC symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Metabolomics
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), are characterized by disrupted bile acid homeostasis.
- The diagnostic and prognostic value of fecal bile acids in IBD remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate associations between 18 fecal bile acid species and IBD diagnosis, disease activity, and symptoms.
- To explore the potential of fecal bile acids as biomarkers for distinguishing IBD subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of 18 fecal bile acid species in stool samples from 62 IBD patients and 17 controls using LC-MS/MS.
- Analysis of bile acid levels normalized to dry weight and ratios to total bile acids.
- Correlation analysis with clinical markers like fecal calprotectin and C-reactive protein (CRP).
Main Results:
- IBD patients displayed altered primary and secondary fecal bile acid profiles, differing between UC and CD.
- In UC, specific bile acids (glycolithocholic acid, hyodeoxycholic acid) correlated negatively with fecal calprotectin and were reduced in severe cases.
- Reduced deoxycholic acid, glycine conjugated DCA, and lithocholic acid were observed in UC patients with diarrhea; GHDCA and glycochenodeoxycholic acid showed potential for distinguishing UC from CD.
Conclusions:
- Disrupted fecal bile acid homeostasis is linked to disease severity and diarrhea in UC, but not CD.
- Fecal bile acid profiles may aid in differentiating UC from CD and understanding the pathophysiology of diarrhea in UC.
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