Many patients with cholesterol gallbladder stones (GBS) have a high percentage of deoxycholic acid (DCA) in gallbladder bile (all of which are in the conjugated form), probably as a result of prolonged large bowel transit times (LBTT). However, whether the prolonged LBTT increases DCA formation, solubilization, or absorption (or all 3) is not known.

In 40 subjects (20 with GBS; age range, 24–74 years), we measured LBTT using radiopaque markers, and intestinal luminal pH by radiotelemetry. We also measured quantitative anaerobic bacteriology and the activities of 2 bile acid-metabolizing enzymes in fresh cecal aspirates obtained during clinically indicated unprepared colonoscopy, and related these results to the percentage of DCA in fasting serum measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Compared with controls, GBS patients had longer LBTT (mean 23.1 ± SEM 2.8 h vs. 36.5 ± 3.3 h; P < 0.01); more total (2.7 ± 0.6 × 10⁹ vs. 5.9 ± 1.5 × 10⁹ cfu/mL) and Gram-positive (9.5 ± 3.1 × 10⁸ vs. 18.0 ± 4.1 × 10⁸ cfu/mL;P < 0.05) anaerobes; and greater 7α-dehydroxylating (7α-DH) activity (3.39 ± 0.59 vs. 10.37 ± 1.15 × 10⁻⁴ U/mg protein) in the cecal aspirates. They also had higher intracolonic pH values (P < 0.02) and increased percentages of DCA in fasting serum (13.4% ± 1.52% vs. 21.8% ± 2.19%; P < 0.005). Results of univariate and multivariate analyses confirmed that LBTT was critical in determining the percentage of DCA in serum and showed that 7α-DH activity and apparent distal colonic pH were also significant independent variables.

Slow colonic transit (more time), increased Gram-positive anaerobes (more bacteria), and greater 7α-DH activity (more enzyme) favor enhanced DCA formation; transit-induced increases in distal colonic luminal pH favor enhanced DCA solubilization/bioavailability; and increases in LBTT (more time) again favor DCA absorption.