What is the important function of bile salts?
Bile acid salts are the main component of bile. The acid salt helps the body digest fat, and also promotes the absorption of essential vitamins such as: A, D, E and K.
Bile and bile acid salts are produced in the liver and are stored in the gallbladder between meals. In addition to salt, bile also contains cholesterol, water, acid and the pigment bilirubin.
The function of bile and bile salts is:
- To promote digestion, break down fat;
- To absorb vitamins;
- To eliminate waste products from the body.
After dinner, fat remains in the digestive tract - at this time, hormones send a signal to the gallbladder and call on this organ to produce bile. When the level of bile acid salts in the body is low, the risk of toxin formation increases.
When a person is unable to produce/maintain sufficient amounts of bile salts due to gallbladder removal (meaning surgical intervention) or other reasons, the following symptoms occur:
- Diarrhea;
- Gas accumulation in the intestines;
- Foul-smelling gas;
- Stomach cramps;
- Changeable bowel movements;
- Weight loss;
- Unusually colored stools.
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