How Do Bile Salts Work

Bile salts break down larger fat globules in food into small droplets of fat. Smaller fat droplets are easier for the digestive enzymes from the pancreas to process and break down. The bile salts also help the cells in the bowel to absorb these fat droplets.

What do the bile salts do?

Bile salts are produced in the liver, secreted into the bile ducts and gallbladder, and sent from there to the small intestine by way of the common bile duct. In the intestine, bile salts make it easier for your body to absorb and digest the fats and fat-soluble vitamins that you’ve eaten.

How do bile salts dissolve gallstones?

Bile must be supersaturated in cholesterol for gallstones to form, and desaturation of bile by orally administered bile acids induces gradual stone dissolution. The mechanism of action of the two agents differs, but both cause a decreased input of cholesterol into the metabolic pool.