They also carried out studies to study its mechanism of action and showed that ferulic acid activated the expression of cytochrome 7A1 (CYP7A1, the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of hepatic bile acids) through non-FXR (farnesoid X receptor) signaling, which prevents hypercholesterolemia, but may increase plasma bile acids. This evidence concerns the gene NR1H4 and familial hypercholesterolemia.