The information about the working of bile acid sequestrants and their use in treatments is provided in short in the article below. Medications used in binding bile components in gastrointestinal tract, are known as bile acid sequestrants. The bile acid sequestrants such as colesevelam (Welchol), colestipol (Colestid) and cholestyramine (Questran) help in lowering LDL cholesterol levels in the body. The drugs mentioned above, belong to the group called synthetic polymeric resins. The bile acid secretion through stools is increased due to bile acid sequestrants. This process prevents the bile acids from returning to the liver. The liver is forced to increase the production of bile acids; it converts cholesterol into acids and thereby, levels of blood cholesterol are lowered. This explains the bile acid sequestrants' mechanism of action in short. Read more on LDL cholesterol lowering.

Bile Acid Sequestrants
Cholesterol, a fatty substance present in the body is harmful for the health of heart. Excess deposition of cholesterol results in the blockage of arteries. It increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. One should thus, undertake measures to reduce the levels of cholesterol in the body. Bile acid sequestrants are among the various means used to control the cholesterol levels in the body. The bile acid sequestrants working is simple to understand. These are basically, polymer compounds. The sequestrants act as ion exchange resins, when used in treatments. The bile acids are bound by these sequestrants through the exchange of anions (for example, choride ions). These sequestrants being polymers in their fundamental structure, are not absorbed in the bloodstream through guts. Therefore, they are excreted through the gastrointestinal tract by means of feces.

Other Uses of Bile Acid Sequestrants
Apart from lowering LDL cholesterol, the bile acid sequestrants could be employed for the treatment of diarrhea and pruritus.

Diarrhea
When bile salts enter the colon and do not get absorbed in the small intestine, it results into a medical condition known as diarrhea. The bile acid sequestrants can be used in such cases for the treatment of diarrhea. Diarrhea of this type is a possible side-effect of the removal of gallbladder. Read more on 'Bile Diarrhea'.

Pruritus
It is a kind of itching, experienced when bile acids deposit in the skin. Such a condition might occur in people suffering from liver problems like cirrhosis. The bile acid sequestrants can also be used to prevent pruritus.

Bile Acid Sequestrants Side Effects
The bile acid sequestrants though are beneficial for health, they also cause some side-effects. These sequestrants cause discomfort to the gastrointestinal tract and lead to constipation. The problems similar to constipation such as flatulence and dyspepsia are also caused due to bile acid sequestrants. The taste of these sequestrants is gritty and some people discontinue the treatment just because of the intolerable taste. It is advised to add fruit juices to these sequestrants in order to subside the bad taste. Since, the sequestrants do not get absorbed in the blood stream, their usage in treatments does not cause any kind of major side effect. Read more on flatulence problems.

The bile acid sequestrants need to be used carefully, since, they prevent some vitamins and drugs from getting absorbed in the body. Therefore, the vitamin proves to be of no use to the body. People suffering from gastrointestinal dysfunction and hemorrhoids are not allowed to consume bile sequestrants. If there is any kind of problem in the functioning of the intestinal tract after a surgery or due to gastrointestinal dysfunction, these sequestrants may add to the problem, causing fecal impaction. The hemorrhoids may also become worse due to the intake of sequestrants.

The bile acid sequestrants are one of the important medications used for lowering LDL cholesterols. However, one should take due care and consider the pros and cons of using them.

Vollmond N
Published: 1/6/2010