Ferrari A, Pacini N, Sirtori C R, Kritchevsky D
Department of Food Science and Microbiology, University of Milan, Italy.
Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1988 May;188(1):108-11. doi: 10.3181/00379727-188-1-rc1.
Chenodeoxycholic and ursodeoxycholic acid are used widely for the treatment of gallstones. A possible drawback to their utility is their conversion to lithocholic acid, which has displayed histotoxicity and mutagenicity. The 7-oleyl esters of cheno- and ursodeoxycholic acid are not degraded by fecal bacteria and may represent safer means of treatment.