The study sought to investigate associations between ASBT expression and which parameters?

• A. CIBDAI scores, histopathology scores, fecal bile acids, and fecal dysbiosis index
• B. Age and body weight only
• C. Serum liver enzymes and renal function
• D. Vaccination history

Answer: (D)

ASBT expression is tied to how bile acids are handled in the gut and how the intestinal environment responds to inflammation and microbial changes. Since ASBT reabsorbs bile acids from the lumen, its levels often reflect the state of mucosal health and the gut microbiome. In a study looking for associations with ASBT, you’d expect links to direct readouts of bile acid metabolism and gut health, such as fecal bile acids (which indicate how much bile acid remains unabsorbed), the fecal dysbiosis index (which captures shifts in the microbial community that can influence bile acid metabolism), and histopathology scores (which measure mucosal inflammation and structural changes). Clinical disease activity scores (like CIBDAI) are also relevant because more active intestinal disease can alter transporter expression and overall gut function.

In contrast, vaccination history doesn’t have a direct, mechanistic connection to ileal bile acid transport or to the mucosal factors that regulate ASBT, so it’s not a plausible anchor for associations with ASBT expression.

Therefore, the associations you’d expect to see are with measures of bile acid handling, microbiome status, and intestinal inflammation, as captured by fecal bile acids, fecal dysbiosis index, histopathology scores, and disease activity scores.