Altered bile acid metabolism in patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and functional constipation

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology 2008, Vol.43 (12), p.1483-1488
• Main Authors: Abrahamsson, Hasse, Östlund-Lindqvist, Ann-Margret, Nilsson, Ralf, Simrén, Magnus, Gillberg, Per-Göran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bile acid synthesis; Bile Acids and Salts - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; colonic transit time; constipation; Constipation - physiopathology; Female; Gastroenterologi; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; IBS; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - physiopathology; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Semiology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus
• ISSN: 0036-5521; 1502-7708; 1502-7708
• DOI: 10.1080/00365520802321212

Objective. Bile acids are derived from cholesterol and are potent physiological laxatives. The aim of this study was to investigate whether bile acid synthesis is altered in constipation. Material and methods. Female patients with constipation (23 IBS-C, 4 functional constipation (FC)) were studied and compared with non-constipated subjects (16 IBS-D, 20 healthy women). Body mass index (BMI), blood lipids, lanosterol, sitosterol, colonic transit (oro-anal transit time (OATT), reference=4.3 days) and stool frequency were measured. C4 (7- -hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one) levels reflecting bile acid synthesis were measured at 0800 h and 1300 h. Results. When all the groups of constipated and non-constipated subjects were compared, it was found that only stool frequency and OATT differed between groups (p