Effect of Ursodeoxycholic Acid Treatment on Intestinal Absorption of Triglycerides in Man

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) may affect the absorption of dietary fat in man. Fifteen healthy subjects volunteered for the study. They were treated with UDCA in a daily dose of 15 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks. Before and during treatment fat absorption was measured with a ¹⁴C-triolein breath test. In addition, fasting serum bile acids were measured in 11 of the subjects. The maximum specific activity of ¹⁴CO₂ was not significantly changed during the treatment period. However, the cumulative output of ¹⁴CO₂ during a 6-h period was decreased by about 25% (p < 0.03). Several subjects with decreased outputs also lost 1–2 kg of body weight during the study period. UDCA treatment raised the serum level of this bile acid from 0.18 ± 0.11 μmol/1 to 5.98 ± 1.08 μmol/l. The concentrations of the other bile acids were not significantly changed. It is suggested that UDCA treatment may in some patients be associated with an impaired fat absorption. Whether this effect is of any clinical importance remains to be elucidated.

Key words:

• Serum bile acids
• triolein breath test