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[Biochemistry](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/) · Molecule

# 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).

**Formula**
C₂₄H₄₀O₅

**PubChem**
[CID 221493](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/221493)

## Structure

- 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.

## Clinical notes

- 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.

## Drugs that act here

- [Colestyramine](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/colestyramine/)
- [Colesevelam](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/colesevelam/)

## Related conditions

- [Crohn disease](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/crohn-disease/)
- [Gallstones (cholelithiasis)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/gallstones/)

## Related

- [Cholesterol](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/cholesterol/)
- [Cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1)](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/enzymes/cholesterol-7-hydroxylase/)
- [Bile acid synthesis](https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/topics/bile-acid-synthesis/)

## Test yourself

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.

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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.

Sources: [Cholic Acid (CID 221493)](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/221493) (PubChem, NCBI, 2026) · Public domain; [Synthesis of bile acids and bile salts (R-HSA-192105)](https://reactome.org/PathwayBrowser/#/R-HSA-192105) (Reactome, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/cholic-acid/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/biochemistry/molecules/cholic-acid/