Conjugated bile acid and cholesterol levels in pregnant Africans and Caucasians

Abstract

Pregnancy serum glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDA) and taurochenodeox-ycholic acid (TCDA) were simultaneously assayed by solfd-phase fluoroim-munoassay (FIA) for apparently healthy Nigerians and Caucasians domiciled in Nigeria and London respectively. Serum cholesterol values were also obtained for the same gestational period, that is, the second and third trimesters. The bile acid and cholesterol values were compared with those of their respective non-pregnant counterparts. Although there was a considerable fluctuation in the mean bile acid concentrations throughout this period for both pregnant groups, the mean bile acid value for each group was, however, within the normal range. The mean bile acid concentration for the pregnant African was significantly lower than that of her Caucasian counterpart, a notable factor in the assessment of hepatobiliary function for the African during pregnancy. Furthermore, a progressive rise in serum cholesterol during pregnancy, previously observed by other workers, was confirmed for both groups of women. But the increase in cholesterol concentration, which was greater in the Caucasian than the African, did not, however, appear to have affected the bile acid concentration during pregnancy.

Key Words:

• Bile acids
• Caucasian
• Cholesterol
• Conjugated
• Fluoro immunoassay
• Pregnancy
• Serum