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Bile acids are made from cholesterol in the liver. They are responsible for the absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, K). Together with phospholipids, they ensure the solubility of cholesterol in bile, increase bile production, increase cholecystokinin secretion and stimulate intestinal motility. The examination of this parameter allows to evaluate the functioning of the liver.
What are bile acids?
Bile acids are cholesterol derivatives that are produced and converted in the liver. They allow the absorption of fats along with the vitamins soluble in them from the intestine. In addition to supporting digestion, bile acids eliminate excess cholesterol from the body, improve gastrointestinal motility and improve the bacterial flora. Some fatty acids are excreted and most of them are absorbed from the intestine into the liver and excreted into the bile as bile salts. They accumulate as a component of bile in the gallbladder. When we eat food, the gallbladder shrinks and empties into the digestive tract, which ultimately causes bile acids to enter the duodenum.
When do we perform a bile acid test?
To begin with, it should be mentioned that the metabolism of bile acids is related to the work of the liver. The liver plays a very important role in the production of acids, removing them from the blood and excreting them into the head. Therefore, bile acid testing helps to assess liver function. The remaining indications for the study are listed below.
1. Obstructed flow of bile from the liver to the gastrointestinal tract (obstruction of the bile ducts). Cholestasis occurs in the course of many diseases of the liver and biliary tract, for example in cholelithiasis, liver cirrhosis, portal vein thrombosis or Wilson’s disease.
2. Suspicion of an inflammatory process of the bile ducts.
3. Damage to hepatocytes by drugs, toxins, viruses or bacteria.
4. Suspicion of cirrhosis of the liver.
5. Monitoring of chronic hepatitis C treatment. Although it is impossible to completely eliminate hepatitis C from the body, with appropriate treatment, it is possible to stop the progressive damage to the liver through the inflammatory process. Inflammation damages the cells in the liver, which are unable to trap the bile acids, leading to an increase in levels in the blood. Thus, reducing inflammation leads to a decrease in bile acid levels at the same time.
6. Diagnostics of intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnant women. It is a transient hepatic impairment that may occur in women in the third trimester of pregnancy. The condition usually resolves spontaneously after the baby is born. Characteristic for intrahepatic cholestasis is the unbearable itching of the hands and feet and an increase in the level of bile acids in the blood.
Helichrysum has a beneficial effect on the biliary tract, the inflorescence of which can be purchased in the form of dried tea. Helichrysum inflorescence is available at Medonet Market.
Examination of bile acids
Material needed to test bile acids: serum.
Preparation for bile acid testing: on an empty stomach (at least 8 hours). For the correct interpretation of the test results, inform your doctor about your current diseases and medications (including herbal and over-the-counter medications).
The course of bile acid research: one-time blood collection from a vein in the arm with a sterile needle. The collected material is placed in a test tube and analyzed in an appropriate laboratory.
Time to wait for the result: 1 Day.
Standard:
– 2-4 hours after a meal – less than 2 µmol / l,
– between meals – below 0,8 µmol / l.
It should be remembered that the reference values vary depending on the test person, especially age and the presence or absence of pregnancy. The laboratory where the test is performed and the equipment used for the measurement are also of great importance. Normally, the standards are given together with the test result.
The test result may be overestimated if the material is taken in a person who is not fasting! Each test result should be interpreted in consultation with the doctor.
Comments: By disrupting the hepatic circulation of bile acids by binding them in the intestines and increasing their excretion, it is possible to increase the uptake of cholesterol from the bloodstream by hepatocytes and to lower the concentration of this compound in the serum (cholesterol is necessary for the production of bile acids).
The importance of bile acids in pregnancy
It is natural for pregnant women to have high levels of bile acids. It is caused by hormonal disturbances and other physiological changes resulting from the state of pregnancy. Nevertheless, the concentration of bile acids above the upper limit of normal may indicate the development of intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnant women. It is a dangerous disease for both the mother and the fetus, therefore appropriate medical treatment is necessary.
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