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. 1975 Feb 22;1(5955):438–440. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5955.438

Can colonic bacterial metabolites predispose to cholesterol gall stones?

T S Low-Beer, E W Pomare
PMCID: PMC1672395  PMID: 1115963

Abstract

The cholesterol content of biliary lipids increased significantly when 16 healthy volunteers ingested deoxycholic acid (DC) for two weeks in a daily dose of 100-150 mg. Serum cholesterol also fell significantly to 88% of the baseline levels. Since DC is formed in the colon we suggest that populations in whom there is a high colonic absorption of bacterially metabolized cholate--that is, DC--have an increased predisposition to cholesterol gall stones.

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Selected References

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