regulation

Last reviewed 01/2018

Bile salt production is regulated by the concentration of bile salts circulating within plasma. There is a negative feedback loop upon 2 target enzymes:

• HMG CoA reductase, the enzyme which produces cholesterol within hepatocytes
• 7-alpha-hydroxylase, the enzyme involved in making the precursor or primary bile acids

Consequently, an elevated plasma bile salt concentration decreases primary bile salt production, and vice versa.