The effect of sodium benzoate and taurocholic acid feeding on human bile composition.

Four patients were fed sodium benzoate after stabilization following common bile duct exploration. Bile collections revealed no change in the output of glycine conjugated bile acids. Three patients had taurocholic acid added to the regimen after 3 days and demonstrated a significant increase in total and taurine conjugated bile acid output with marked reduction of the G/T ratio. These latter changes are similar to those produced by taurocholic acid feeding alone and therefore no benefit of the combination of drugs on bile salt excretion or conjugation ratio was demonstrated.