Absorption of bile acids from the large bowel in man.

The absorption of bile acids from the human large bowel was studied in eight patients. All patients had cholecystitis and cholelithiasis and had to undergo cholecystectomy. Cholic acid-(14)C was injected during surgery into the lumen of the cecum, hepatic flexure of the colon, or transverse colon in six patients, under the visual control of the surgeon.