Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid treatment on intestinal absorption of triglycerides in man.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Prospective before-after study in a single cohort without a parallel control group
What was done
Fifteen healthy volunteers were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight daily for 4 weeks. Fat absorption was assessed before and during treatment using a 14C-triolein breath test. Fasting serum bile acid concentrations were also measured in 11 of the participants.
What was found
Treatment with UDCA significantly increased serum UDCA concentrations from 0.18 ± 0.11 µmol/L to 5.98 ± 1.08 µmol/L, while other serum bile acids did not change significantly. The peak specific activity of 14CO2 was unchanged, but the 6-hour cumulative output of 14CO2 decreased by approximately 25% (p < 0.03). Several participants who experienced decreased cumulative outputs also lost 1 to 2 kg of body weight during the study.
Why it matters
These findings suggest that therapeutic doses of UDCA may partially impair intestinal triglyceride absorption in humans, highlighting a potential mechanism for mild malabsorption or weight changes during therapy.
Limits
The sample size was small (n = 15) and restricted to healthy volunteers rather than patients with hepatobiliary disease. The study lacked a placebo or untreated control group, fat absorption was evaluated via a breath test proxy rather than quantitative fecal fat balance, and the clinical significance of the observed reduction remains unconfirmed.
Cited by
- context TUDCA is mostly water-soluble rather than fat-soluble, preventing it from aiding fat digestion.