title: Biliary D-glucaric acid: its quantitation and preventive role in gallstone formation.
abstract: A method for quantitation of D-glucaric acid in bile has been developed involving extraction with tetrahexylammonium chloride, boiling for 40-60 min, and determination of the percentage inhibition of beta-glucuronidase activity at 56 degrees C and pH 4. D-glucaric acid, bilirubin, bile acid, and protein were determined in 106 human gallbladder biles obtained at autopsy, including 20 with gallstones. The mean D-glucaric acid content was 1125 +/- 159 microM (mean +/- SE). Biliary beta-glucuronidase activity was not affected by D-glucaric acid because of 1) no difference in biliary D-glucaric acid content, either absolute or corrected for per unit of bilirubin, bile acid, or protein, between those with and those without gallstones; 2) no negative correlation between D-glucaric acid content and beta-glucuronidase activity in the bile; and 3) minimal conversion of D-glucaric acid to D-glucaro-1,4-lactone at the usual pH of bile. We conclude that biliary D-glucaric acid plays no role in the prevention of gallstone formation.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Pathology, University of Alabama, Birmingham Medical Center.
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D001646:Bile / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005937:Glucaric Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D013400:Sugar Acids / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013400:Sugar Acids; D005966:Glucuronidase; D005937:Glucaric Acid