Bile Acid Sequestrants Research Paper
361 Words2 Pages
Bile acid sequestrants (BAS) are large polymers (resins) that bind to bile salts in the small intestine, preventing their reabsorption into the enterohepatic circulation pathway and enhancing their fecal excretion[58]. This causes a depletion of bile acids, which leads to an increase of hepatic metabolism of cholesterol. Subsequently, the increased metabolism of intracellular cholesterol induces upregulation of LDL receptor expression, thereby lowering plasma LDL-C[59]. Currently three bile acid sequestrants have been released for clinical use: cholestyramine, colestipol, and colesevelam hydrochloride. The efficacy of cholestyramine has been widely studied in clinical studies. Most notably is the Lipid Research Clinics Coronary Primary Prevention