The compositions and methods provided herein are related, in part, to the discovery of cholic acid 7-sulfate as a treatment for diabetes. Provided herein is a method for treating a metabolic disorder (e.g., diabetes, obesity), or an inflammatory disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, appendicitis, gastritis, diverticulitis, celiac disease, food intolerance, enteritis, ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis) in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to a subject a compound of Formulae (I)-(XVII).

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I), a stereoisomer, a salt, a hydrate or a solvate thereof, comprising the step of desulfinylation of a compound of formula (II) to produce compound of formula (I); wherein: R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are as defined in the claims, wherein said desulfinylation step is performed by continuous flow process.

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