bilirubin diglucuronide

Bilirubin diglucuronide is a form of bilirubin that has been processed by the liver. Bilirubin itself is a yellowish-brown pigment produced from the breakdown of red blood cells, primarily in the bone marrow and liver. It gives feces their characteristic color and has no known function, though it can be toxic to the fetal brain.1

In the bloodstream, bilirubin is typically unconjugated and bound to albumin. When it reaches the liver, it conjugates with glucuronic acid, forming bilirubin diglucuronide. This conjugated form is then concentrated in the bile and passed to the gallbladder. If the liver's ability to conjugate bilirubin is reduced, or if liver cells are severely damaged, unconjugated bilirubin can build up in the blood, leading to jaundice. Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and eyes due to high bilirubin levels.12