Bile acids usually consist of a 24-carbon steroid core and a side chain with a carboxyl group. The catabolites of mammalian cholesterol are primarily primary bile acids, including cholic and deoxycholic acids, which are secreted into bile in combination with taurine or glycine. The primary bile acids are dehydroxylated and converted to secondary bile acids, including deoxycholic and lithocholic acids. Metabolism disorder of bile acid is related to liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes, obesity and other diseases.
