bile salt

noun

plural bile salts

1

: a salt of bile acid

especially : one (such as taurocholic acid) formed in the liver from the combination of a bile acid (such as cholic acid) with the amino acid glycine or taurine

2

bile salts plural : a dry mixture of the salts of the bile of the ox that is used especially as a digestive aid in the breakdown and absorption of fats

Examples of bile salt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Incorporating foods rich in fiber can aid digestion and prevent bile salts from crystallizing into stones. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023

Most bile salts will be reabsorbed later on at the end of the small intestine, recirculating them for reuse. —Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 19 July 2023

The colon also learns to live with bile salts, and the diarrhea mostly goes away. —Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 19 July 2023

Your liver makes bile salts, which are necessary for fat absorption. —Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 19 July 2023

Bile, along with bile salts, is used to break down fats during the digestive process. —Kate Wehr, Good Housekeeping, 18 Apr. 2019

The divers inject the starfish with a solution of bile salts or white vinegar, which kill the starfish without hurting other marine life. —Isabella Kwai, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

bile salt

noun

1

: a salt of bile acid

especially : one (such as taurocholic or glycolic acid) formed in the liver from the combination of a bile acid (such as cholic or deoxycholic acid) with glycine or taurine

2

bile salts plural : a dry mixture of the salts of the bile of the ox used especially as a digestive aid in the breakdown and absorption of fat

called also ox bile, ox bile extract