RESUMO
Insulin resistance is the basis of several common diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, affecting millions people worldwide and satisfactory treatments are limited. Therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this condition and to find new and more effective therapies. Bile acids may actively participate in the control of metabolism. They derive from cholesterol, and function as natural ligands of nuclear and membrane receptors, regulating gene expression and controlling their own metabolism and that of glucose, including insulin response. Moreover, bile acids have been related to endoplasmic reticulum stress, a cellular response tightly associated to insulin resistance. These features give bile acids pharmacological properties with potential therapeutic use. Herein, we discuss the physiological role of bile acids on glucose metabolism, particularly on the regulation of the insulin response.