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bile acid
noun
plural bile acids
: any of several steroid acids (such as cholic acid) that occur in bile especially in the form of bile salts, are produced chiefly in the liver from cholesterol, and aid in the intestinal breakdown and absorption of fat
Approximately 500 mg of cholesterol is converted into bile acids each day in the adult human liver.—David W. Russell
Examples of bile acid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Decrease bile acids in the gastrointestinal tract Help to prevent obesity, which is associated with cancer risk
Screening Is Key to Prevent Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer typically affects older men, and Black men have a much higher risk than White men.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 29 Feb. 2024
The reason, the team determined, was that their guts contained higher levels of bile acids, which would normally be broken down by gut microbes.
—Kenneth Miller, Discover Magazine, 11 Dec. 2023
Bile Acid-Reducing Conditions Another way in which fats are broken down is with bile acid.
—Maxine Lipner, Health, 25 Sep. 2023
Deoxycholic acid is technically a bile acid that the body naturally creates to help break down and absorb fats in our diet.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023
The bile acids aid in breaking down fats during digestion, so maintaining an optimal balance is vital for dogs with gallbladder problems.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023
Sometimes, the ability of the terminal ileum (the part of the intestine where bile salts are reabsorbed) gets overwhelmed, and bile acids enter the colon, causing diarrhea.
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 19 July 2023
Research also suggests that avocados can improve your gut health and combat bloat by breaking down fiber and reducing bile acids (digestive fluids produced by the liver).
—Colleen De Bellefonds, Women's Health, 30 June 2023
Without a gallbladder, bile acids are released continuously by the liver into the small intestine.
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 28 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bile acid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1881, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near bile acid
Cite this Entry
“Bile acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bile%20acid. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
Medical Definition
bile acid
noun
: any of several steroid acids (such as cholic acid) that occur in bile especially in the form of bile salts, are produced chiefly in the liver from cholesterol, and aid in the intestinal breakdown and absorption of fat
In the intestine, bile acids are essential for the absorption, transport, and metabolism of dietary fats and lipid-soluble vitamins.—Li Tiangang and John Y. L. Chiang, Pharmacological Reviews
More from Merriam-Webster on bile acid
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bile acid
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