deoxycholic

Deoxycholic acid, also called deoxycholate, is a secondary bile acid produced in the human intestine by bacterial 7α-dehydroxylation of cholic acid. It is a dihydroxy steroid with hydroxyl groups at the 3α and 12α positions. In humans it occurs both as the unconjugated acid and, after hepatic conjugation with glycine or taurine, as deoxycholate bile salts such as glyco- and tauro-deoxycholate, which are secreted into bile as part of the bile acid pool.

As a component of bile, deoxycholic acid functions as an emulsifying detergent that helps solubilize lipids in the small intestine. This facilitates the action of pancreatic lipase and the digestion and absorption of fats. After aiding digestion, deoxycholic acid is reabsorbed from the intestine and returned to the liver in the enterohepatic circulation.

Deoxycholic acid is classified as a secondary bile acid because it is generated from primary bile acids by the gut microbiota. It represents a minor but physiologically important portion of the overall bile acid pool, with levels influenced by diet, microbiome composition, and liver function.

Medical and cosmetic uses exist for formulations containing deoxycholic acid. In controlled intradermal injections, deoxycholic acid is used to reduce subcutaneous fat in certain areas by lysing adipocytes. Such treatments require medical supervision due to potential side effects, including swelling, tenderness, numbness, and, rarely, nerve injury.

Metabolism and excretion occur primarily via the liver and biliary system, with deoxycholic acid undergoing enterohepatic recirculation and eventual elimination in the feces.