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

Speedy weight loss increases bile acids, which are used to break down fat during digestion. —Bethany Brookshire, Scientific American, 29 May 2026

Changes in gut bacteria can increase inflammation and affect how the body breaks down certain substances in the gut, such as bile acids and other digestion byproducts. —Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 20 May 2026

The former are believed to contribute to gastric and intestinal acid secretion, while the latter are involved in bile acid synthesis. —Javier Carbajal, Wired News, 4 May 2026

The fiber molecules interact with bile acids and dietary cholesterol, causing them to be excreted more easily and lower blood cholesterol levels. —Julie Pollock, The Conversation, 1 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1881, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bile acid

• antacid
• placid

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