Bacterial action in the colon produces LCA from chenodeoxycholic acid by reduction of the hydroxyl functional group at carbon-7 in the "B" ring of the steroid framework.

[citation needed] It has been implicated in human and experimental animal carcinogenesis.

[6] LCA binds with 20 μM affinity to the human membrane enzyme NAPE-PLD, enhancing dimer assembly and enabling catalysis.

NAPE-PLD catalyzes the release of anandamide and other N-acylethanolamines (NAE) from the membrane precursor N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE).

[7] [8][9] LCA has been reported to have anti-aging effects in yeast,[10][11][12] and more recently fruit flies, nematodes, and mice.