IS THERE A CAUSAL CONNECTION BETWEEN BILE-ACIDS AND COLORECTAL-CANCER

Bile acid composition was assessed in 50 patients with colorectal canc er as compared to that in a control group of 50 subjects. The two grou ps were age- and sex-matched. The overall bile acid values were simila r in both groups, while the relative concentrations of primary and sec ondary bile acids were different, a significant increase in the patien ts with colorectal cancer being observed. This finding thus seems to c onfirm the existence of a link between colorectal cancer and cholelith iasis. Both conditions share common risk factors, such as alterations in cholesterol metabolism and bile acid composition.