In the subgroup of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis  , ursodeoxycholic acid  reduced total cholesterol ( WMD : − 29.86 mg/dL , 95 % CI : -47.39 , − 12.33 , p = 0.001 ) and LDL-C ( WMD : -37.27 mg/dL , 95 % CI : -54.16 , − 20.38 , p < 0.001 ) concentrations without affecting TG and HDL-C. Conclusion This meta- analysis suggests that ursodeoxycholic acid therapy might be associated with significant total cholesterol lowering particularly in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis
Objective The aim of this meta- analysis of r and omized placebo-controlled trials was to examine whether ursodeoxycholic acid treatment is an effective lipid-lowering agent .
Effect of high and low doses of ursodeoxycholic acid on gallstone dissolution in humans.
To test the effectiveness of ursodeoxycholic acid as a gallstone dissolving agent , doses of 250 mg/day and 1000 mg/day were administered for 1 year to two groups of 10 and 11 subjects each . Success was defined as a reduction in stone size and number of 50 % or more . Both groups of subjects were similar when comparing age , height , weight , gallstone size , and number although more men were enrolled in the high-dose treatment group . After 1 yr of high-dose ursodeoxycholic acid , successful treatment occurred in 70 % of subjects associated with a rise in biliary ursodeoxycholic acid  ( 1.7 to 51 % ) and a decline in the proportions of cholic acid ( 36 to 16 % ) , deoxycholic acid ( 19 to 10 % ) , chenodeoxycholic acid ( 41 to 23 % ) , and lithocholic acid ( 1.9 to 0.4 % ) . The mean cholesterol saturation index decreased from 1.5 to 0.7 and was accompanied by a 3.0-fold reduction in the activity of HMG CoA reductase ( 81 to 29 units ) in 2 subjects . With low-dose ursodeoxycholic acid , successful treatment occurred in 30 % of subjects accompanied by a rise in biliary ursodeoxycholic acid  to 29 % of total bile acids ; and a decline in deoxycholic acid ( 33 to 25 % ) , chenodeoxycholic acid ( 46 to 22 % ) , and lithocholic acid ( 4.0 to 2.4 % ) , while cholic acid ( 22 % ) did not change . The mean cholesterol saturation index fell from 1.9 to 1.2 . No untoward effects ( diarrhea or elevated serum transaminase levels ) were noted in either group . These results confirm that both high and low doses of ursodeoxycholic acid dissol ve gallstones in humans and were not associated with uncomfortable side effects . However , high doses of ursodeoxycholic acid were more effective and produced a greater reduction in the cholesterol saturation index , presumably by reducing hepatic cholesterol synthesis . Thus , the smallest effective dose of ursodeoxycholic acid probably lies between 250 mg and 1000 mg/day
In the subgroup of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis  , ursodeoxycholic acid  reduced total cholesterol ( WMD : − 29.86 mg/dL , 95 % CI : -47.39 , − 12.33 , p = 0.001 ) and LDL-C ( WMD : -37.27 mg/dL , 95 % CI : -54.16 , − 20.38 , p < 0.001 ) concentrations without affecting TG and HDL-C. Conclusion This meta- analysis suggests that ursodeoxycholic acid therapy might be associated with significant total cholesterol lowering particularly in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis
Objective The aim of this meta- analysis of r and omized placebo-controlled trials was to examine whether ursodeoxycholic acid treatment is an effective lipid-lowering agent .