Question

How does bile helps in digestion of fats and other nutrients of food?

Answer 1

• Bile contains bile acids, cholesterol, water, potassium, sodium, bilirubin.
• Fats in diet is in the form of Triacylglycerol (3- fatty acids linked to glycerol).
• Fats are hydrophobic (do not dissolve in water).
• Bile molecules contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic ends.
• The hydrophilic end repels the fat molecules and prevents from combining together.
• They form coated fat molecules called micelles.
• The lipase enzyme from pancreas breakdown these fat molecules to simpler ones which helps in better absorption in the small intestine.