Is Chenodiol safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Chenodiol. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Chenodiol acts directly on enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal tract to stimulate 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion, which regulates gastrointestinal motility. Chenodiol stool levels were higher in breastfed infants with increased defecation frequency than in infants with normal or lower frequency.[ 2 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. In a small study of women who were 2 to 3 days postpartum who were not taking any exogenous bile acids, obese women had bile acid levels in milk that were about equal to those in plasma, unlike women of normal weight who had milk levels of about 10% of plasma levels. Chenodiol conjugate levels were higher in the milk of obese mothers than normal-weight mothers.[ 1 ] Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternatives LactMed lists
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.