Alterations in bile acid levels in metabolic diseases and related treatment strategies

Abstract

Bile acid as a signaling molecule can specifically bind to bile acid receptors (such as farnesoid X receptor and G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor) to mediate a series of biological regulation reactions. In recent years, it has been found that bile acids are widely involved in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and energy metabolism. The development of metabolic diseases is usually accompanied by the changes of bile acid profiles and receptors, and thus bile acids may be applied as potential biomarkers for clinical diagnosis, prediction, and evaluation of therapeutic effects. This article reviews the relationship between bile acids and metabolic diseases, and the treatment of metabolic diseases based on the regulation of bile acid metabolism.