Bile salts

Bile salts are a component of bile, a fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. They play a crucial role in the digestion and absorption of dietary fats in the small intestine.

Composition

Bile salts are derived from cholesterol. They are composed of a steroid nucleus with four fused rings, a five- or eight-carbon side chain ending in a carboxylic acid, and several hydroxyl groups, the number and orientation of which is different for each specific bile salt. The two primary bile salts are cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid.

Function

The primary function of bile salts is to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats. They act as emulsifiers, breaking down large fat globules into smaller droplets that can be more easily digested by lipase, an enzyme produced by the pancreas.

Bile salts also play a role in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K) and help to eliminate cholesterol from the body.

Clinical significance

Abnormalities in bile salt production or function can lead to a variety of health problems. For example, a deficiency in bile salts can result in steatorrhea, a condition characterized by fatty, foul-smelling stools. This can occur in diseases that affect the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas, such as cirrhosis, gallstones, or chronic pancreatitis.

Bile salt supplements are sometimes used in the treatment of these conditions to improve fat digestion and absorption.

See also

• Bile acid
• Digestive system
• Liver disease