The bile acids are products of cholesterol metabolism. Regulation of bile acid :metabolism is one of major functions of the liver.
In vertebrates the cholesterol molecule is a major constituent of cell membranes and most body tissues, and primarily the liver and small intestine synthesize cholesterol continuously. Adult organism must eliminate cholesterol from body pool to prevent accumulation. This has been achieved by converting cholesterol to water-soluble derivatives, the bile acids, in the liver, which are secreted in bile, and by excreting cholesterol as bile aicd-lecithin-cholesterol micelles of bile.
The level of serum bile acids is determined by only effective intestinal reabsorption and hepatic clearence of bile acids regardless of serum cholesterol level associated with dietary fat intake. Elevated serum bile acid concentration is a more sensitive indicator of liver dysfunction than any currently available liver function test. Unfortunately, methods of measurement of bile acid are exceedingly complex and time consuming and have not been widely applied in clinical practice. Recently, a more specific, senstive and accurate radioimmunoassay for the determination of cholyl conjugates than gas-liquid chromatography and enzyme fluorim,etric method is developed.
The author has determined the fasting serum cholylglycine levels in 160 healthy Korean adult males and females by radioimmunoassay using CG RIA Diagnostic Kit supplied by Abbott Laboratories, on July to August, 1980.
The results obtained are follows:
1. The means and normal values (mean±2S.D.) of fasting serum cholylglycine in healthy Korean males are 18. 0±37.8,ug/100ml in 21- 30years of* age, 17. 44± 36. l,ug/100ml in 31-40years of age, 13.78±29. 62,ug/100ml in 41-50years of age, 14. 0+45. 36pg/100ml in 51-60years of age, and 15.81±36.78pg/100ml (0.3 2±0. 74,umole/l) in total 80 males.
2. The means and normal values of fasting serum cholylglycine in healthy Korean females are 11. 07+23.48,ug/100m1 in 21- 30yerars of age, 13.65+22. 3,ug/100ml in 31 ~ 40years of age, 14. 18±27.38pg/100ml in 41 -50years of age, 7.21+14. l,ug/ 100ml in 51-60years of age, and 11. 53+21. 8,ug/100ml (0.23±0.431amole/l) in total 80 females.
3. The means and normal values of fasting serum cholylglycine in healthy Korean males and females are 14.54±30.82,ug/100ml in 21-30years of age, 15.55+29.62cog/100m1 in 31- 40years of age, 13. 98 +28.02,ug/100ml in 41-50 years of age,. 10.61±36.78,ug/100m1 in 51N60years of age, and 13.67+21. 88,ug/100m1 (0.27± 0. 44pmoI/l) in total 160 males and females.
The differences of normal values of serum cholylglycine between males and_ females, and between the age groups of both males and females are not significant statistically by t-test.
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