Cholesterol Tips

Bile Acid Sequestrant: Some Facts

The bile acid sequestrants are the substances which can bind specific components of bile that are present in gastrointestinal tract. The enterohepatic circulation is stopped which is caused by bile acids.

Bile acid sequestrants are the compounds of polymeric and the ion exchange resins. For bile acids, they exchange anion that is chloride and for this reason enterohepatic circulation cannot be formed. Bile acids are the biosynthetic form of cholesterol and the bile acid is not reabsorbed then cholesterol level can decrease .So it can treat dyslipidemia and hypercholesterolemia. In chronic liver disease it can prevent pruritus. It can reduce diarrhea in the patients. It is also useful for treating hyperthyroidism because it inhibits enterohepatic circulation. There are three types of bile acid sequestrants such as colestipol, cholestyramine and colesevelam. Some side effects of this are flatulence, constipation and diarrhea. They can bind drugs which are present in GI tract and prevent absorption into bloodstream. They can bind fat soluble such as vitamin K, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A. So there will be no vitamin deficiency. It can increase risk factor of rhabdomyolysis if it is used with statins. These sequestrants are safe for a pregnant lady.

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