What do bile acid sequestrants do in the body?

Bile acid sequestrants are a class of medications that primarily work by binding to bile acids in the intestine, preventing their reabsorption. This process leads to an increase in the excretion of bile acids, which necessitates the liver to convert more cholesterol into bile acids in order to replace those lost. As a result, bile acid sequestrants help to lower levels of cholesterol in the blood by reducing the overall cholesterol pool available for production of bile acids.

While they do not directly reduce bile production, they affect the overall metabolic processes involving bile acids and cholesterol. Consequently, the liver uses more cholesterol to produce additional bile acids, which ultimately helps to lower blood cholesterol levels. This mechanism of action is why recognizing the role of bile acids and their sequestration leads to a decrease in cholesterol absorption into the body.