Secondary Bile Salts

Gallbladder removal or antibiotic courses are clinically associated with development of arthritis or joint pain. Secondary bile salts reduce ER stress in chondrocytes, protecting the cellular machinery that maintains joint integrity. Plant proteins including soy contain little to no taurine, which is required for bile production, impairing the joint-protective secondary bile pathway. Gut microbes transform primary bile into secondary bile salts that act as potent anti-inflammatory agents in joints. Emulsifiers found in processed foods disrupt the gut microbiome responsible for converting primary bile into joint-protective secondary bile salts.