Cholic acid !

Cholic acid is one of the two primary bile acids: the liver makes it from cholesterol to emulsify fats in the gut.

Updated 2026-11-01

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Key facts

A primary bile acid with three OH groups (3α, 7α, 12α); the other primary one is chenodeoxycholic acid (3α, 7α).
It is conjugated with glycine or taurine to form more soluble bile salts (glycocholate, taurocholate).
In the colon, bacteria remove its 7α-OH: it becomes deoxycholic acid, a secondary bile acid.
About 95% of bile salts are reabsorbed in the terminal ileum (enterohepatic circulation).

One face of the steroid carries the OH groups and the other the methyls: a flat amphipathic molecule that forms micelles.
It has 24 carbons: cholesterol's side chain is shortened and ends in a carboxyl.

Resection or disease of the terminal ileum (as in Crohn disease) loses bile salts: diarrhoea and fat malabsorption.
Cholic acid is used as treatment for some inborn errors of bile acid synthesis.

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

What are the two primary bile acids?

Cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid.

Which secondary bile acid comes from cholic acid?

Deoxycholic acid: colonic bacteria remove its 7α-OH.

Why does terminal ileal resection cause steatorrhoea?

Bile salts are not reabsorbed and are lost; there are too few micelles to absorb fat.

Molecules are shown in their neutral form, as the databases deposit them; in the cell the acids and phosphates are ionised.

Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

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