Alan Frederick Hofmann (May 17, 1931 – September 7, 2021) was a gastrointestinal physiologist, biochemist and clinician who was notable for his extensive basic, translational and clinical research on bile acids and lipid digestion.

In 1977 he relocated to University of California, San Diego, where he was Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, with Emeritus status from 2002.

[3] He made many advances in the chemistry and biology of bile acids, helping understand and treat various liver, biliary and digestive diseases.

[1][2] Together with his longtime collaborator, Lee Hagey, he has written a comprehensive history of bile acid research.

[5] Making the most of his proximity to the San Diego Zoo, his publications helped define the wide bile acid diversity found in different vertebrates.

[9][10] He published fundamental work on the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids and how disturbances in ileal function such as those found in Crohn's disease can produce chronic diarrhea.

[23] Recipients have included James Boyer, Tachi Yamada, Monty Bissell, Jeff Gordon, and Anna Mae Diehl.