The aims of this study are to measure the serum levels of fat soluble vitamins (vitamin A and D) from bile duct ligated rats, and to evaluate the effect of oral bile acids administration to facilitate absorption of fat soluble vitamins.

We measured serum ALT, total bilirubin, vitamin A, and vitamin D of Sprague-Dawley rats 1 week before and 4 weeks after experimental bile duct ligation. Rats were consisted with 3 groups. Group 2 had been find bile acids and group 3 ursodeoxycholic acid after operation for 4 weeks. Multi-vitamin was given to all groups.

1) Base line (mean value before duct ligation): ALT 74.2 IU, total bilirubin 0.26 mg/dL; vitamin D 13.01 ng/mL vitamin A 0.87 microgram/mL, total bile acids 25.16 micron mol/L. 2) Four weeks after ligation: ALT 100.7 IU, total bilirubin 2.58 mg/dL; vitamin D 7.89 ng/mL vitamin A 1.37 microgram/mL, total bile acids 278.22 micron mol/L. 3) 4 weeks after ligation, each group (group 1, group 2 and group 3) showed vitamin D (7.62, 8.10 and 7.99) ng/mL, vitamin A (1.68, 1.06 and 1.33) microgram/mL, total bile acids (233.17, 345.80 and 268.57) micron mol/L, which were statistically not significant.

Serum level of vitamin A is increased after bile duct ligation although vitamin D is decreased. Oral administration of bile acids does not affect the serum levels of vitamin A and D in bile duct ligated rats.