Regulatory Role of Bile Acids in Dietary Fat Absorption and Intestinal Lipoprotein Production

Postprandial dyslipidemia is a key feature of insulin resistance that involves the overproduction of chylomicrons from the intestine after a meal, resulting in an excess number of atherogenic lipoprotein remnants. Bile acids have been recognized as signaling molecules with the ability to regulate peripheral lipid metabolism and energy expenditure. Here I examined the utility of intraduodenal bile acid administration for lowering postprandial lipemia and chylomicron production in the Syrian golden hamster model. Bile acid administration was shown to decrease postprandial lipemia by slowing down gastric emptying and decreasing mRNA expression of genes involved in fatty acid absorption and chylomicron assembly. Furthermore, bile acid administration was able to regulate VLDL secretion in the fasting state and decreased postprandial lipemia in insulin resistant hamsters. Altogether, the findings arising from these studies support the potential utility of targeting bile acid receptors in the treatment of postprandial dyslipidemia often seen in insulin resistant states.M.Sc