Fasting and postprandial serum bile acid concentrations in normal persons using an improved GLC method.

An improved GLC method was employed to study individual serum bile acids in 14 control subjects after a 12-hour fast followed by a standard fatty meal. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained at 15-min intervals for up to 2 h in 7 subjects, and 4 h in 2 subjects. The fasting total bile acids, and cholic:chenodeozycholic acid ratio fell within a narrow range. The total bile acids and chenodeoxycholic acid increased significantly within 30 min of the meal, to reach peak values within 75-120 min. The extent of the increase was variable, and the range of values increased progressively after the meal.