Serum Bile Acid Total
Understanding Serum Bile Acid Total
What is Serum Bile Acid Total?
The Serum Bile Acid Total test is used to assess the levels of bile acids in the blood. Bile acids are produced by the liver and are crucial to the digestion and absorption of fats. This test may help detect and monitor liver and gallbladder disorders.
Bile acids play a crucial role in breaking down and absorbing dietary fats. They also help eliminate cholesterol and certain waste products from the body. The Serum Bile Acid Total test evaluates liver function and bile acid metabolism. Abnormal levels of bile acids in the blood can indicate liver diseases such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, or impaired bile flow (cholestasis).
The Serum Bile Acid Total may be recommended when you notice symptoms suggestive of unhealthy liver, such as dark urine, nausea, abdominal pain and swelling, clay-colored stool, jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin), anemia, and flu-like symptoms like fever and chills. It may also be done to monitor individuals with known liver or gallbladder disorders or to evaluate the response to treatment.
In pregnant women, the Serum Bile Acid Total test may be used to diagnose intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). ICP is a serious liver disease that typically develops in late pregnancy due to the build-up of bile acids in the body, and this test can help in diagnosing this disease early on. Undiagnosed ICP can cause complications for the pregnant woman and the unborn child.
Usually, overnight fasting (8-12 hours) is preferred for this test. Do not eat or drink anything except water before the test. Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. These will help the doctor determine appropriate treatments through supplements, medications, dietary adjustments, or lifestyle modifications.
What is Serum Bile Acid Total used for?
The Serum Bile Acid Total test is done:
- As a part of preventive health screening for liver disease.
- To diagnose liver diseases such as sclerosis of the liver, acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).
- To check the progression of the liver disease and the efficacy of medications.
What does Serum Bile Acid Total measure?
The Serum Bile Acid Total test helps determine the amount of bile acid in your blood. It is a type of digestive enzyme produced by the liver cells and plays a role in emulsifying fats and cholesterol from food to facilitate better fat absorption. This test helps in the diagnosis and monitoring of cholestasis and other liver and gallbladder disorders, such as liver cirrhosis and hepatitis. It is also used to monitor the effects of certain medications.
Interpreting Serum Bile Acid Total results
Interpretations
The normal reference range lies between 0.50 - 10.00 μmol/L*
*Reference range may vary from lab to lab.
Answers to Patient Concerns & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Serum Bile Acid Total
Frequently Asked Questions about Serum Bile Acid Total
Q. How is the bile acid produced in the body and what does it do?
Q. What is intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP)?
Q. What happens if bile acid is low in pregnancy?
Q. How can I reduce bile acid during pregnancy naturally?
Q. In what conditions can the bile acid level be increased?
Q. What is the effect on the levels of bile acid after having meals?
Book a Serum Bile Acid Total test at home near me
References
- Manzotti C, Casazza G, Stimac T, Nikolova D, Gluud C. Total serum bile acids or serum bile acid profile, or both, for the diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Jul 5;7(7):CD012546. [Accessed 09 Nov. 2023]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6613619/
- Chiang JY. Bile acid metabolism and signaling. Compr Physiol. 2013 Jul;3(3):1191-212. [Accessed 09 Nov. 2023]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4422175/#:~:text=Bile%20acid%20synthesis%20generates%20bile,glycine%20for%20secretion%20into%20bile.
- Hundt M, Basit H, John S. Physiology, Bile Secretion. [Updated 2022 Sep 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470209/
- LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-. Bile Acids. [Updated 2017 Sep 25]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548626/
- Shulpekova Y, Zharkova M, Tkachenko P, Tikhonov I, Stepanov A, Synitsyna A, Izotov A, Butkova T, Shulpekova N, Lapina N, Nechaev V, Kardasheva S, Okhlobystin A, Ivashkin V. The Role of Bile Acids in the Human Body and in the Development of Diseases. Molecules. 2022 May 25;27(11):3401. [Accessed 09 Nov. 2023]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9182388/
- Ponz De Leon M, Murphy GM, Dowling RH. Physiological factors influencing serum bile acid levels. Gut. 1978 Jan;19(1):32-9. [Accessed 09 Nov. 2023]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1411780/
- Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation) [Internet]. Healthdirect; Oct. 2022 [Accessed 09 Nov. 2023]. Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/cholecystitis-gallbladder-inflammation
- Cholestasis of Pregnancy [Internet]. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Medical Center; [Accessed 09 Nov. 2023]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P02440
Other tests
