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Secondary Bile Acids

Meaning

Secondary bile acids are compounds that are generated in the colon through the deconjugation and subsequent biotransformation of primary bile acids by the resident gut microbiota. The primary bile acids, cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, are produced in the liver and secreted into the small intestine to aid in fat digestion. Once they reach the colon, bacteria modify them into secondary bile acids, such as deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid, which can be reabsorbed into the circulation. These secondary compounds are physiologically active signaling molecules that influence lipid and glucose metabolism, intestinal barrier function, and even hormone signaling.