Description
Isodeoxycholic acid is a bile acid that is formed via epimerization of deoxycholic acid by intestinal bacteria.[1] It has a greater critical micelle concentration than DCA, indicating reduced detergent activity, and is less active than DCA in inhibiting growth in a panel of seven gut commensal bacteria species. Isodeoxycholic acid (0.1%) inhibits spore germination induced by taurocholic acid in several C. difficile strains, as well as decreases the cytotoxicity of C. difficile culture supernatants to Vero cells.[2] Plasma levels of isodeoxycholic acid are decreased in a rat model of high-fat diet-induced obesity compared with rats fed a normal diet.[3]