Are the changes in faecal bile acid concentrations the cause of colorectal cancer or one of its effects? This is an area of controversy mainly due to the lack of a clear explanation as to how the bile acid concentrations are controlled under different circumstances. This review presents an outline of the evidence that bile acids are both a causal factor in colorectal cancer and that their concentrations are affected by it in a synergistic manner. It also offers an explanation of how some dietary fibre protects against colorectal cancer.
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