What is a common effect of bile acid resins on lipid levels in patients?

Bile acid resins, such as cholestyramine, colestipol, and colesevelam, primarily work by binding to bile acids in the intestine. This binding prevents their reabsorption, leading to increased excretion of bile acids. To compensate for this loss, the liver converts cholesterol into bile acids, thereby reducing the cholesterol content in the liver. As a result, this process drives the liver to increase the uptake of circulating LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream, leading to a reduction in LDL cholesterol levels in patients.

This mechanism is why the effect on lipid levels is characterized by a decrease in LDL levels when bile acid resins are used in therapy. While these agents can have neutral or even positive effects on HDL levels in some cases, their primary and most noted action is the reduction of LDL cholesterol. Thus, the correct answer accurately reflects the main therapeutic effect of bile acid resins on lipid profiles.