Bile is a complex fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It plays a crucial role in digestion, particularly in the breakdown of fats. While bile is often referred to as "bile salts," it's more accurate to say that bile contains both bile acids and bile salts.
- Bile acids are steroid acids synthesized in the liver. They are responsible for emulsifying fats, breaking them down into smaller droplets that can be more easily digested by enzymes.
- Bile salts are formed when bile acids are conjugated with either glycine or taurine, amino acids that add a negative charge to the molecule. This conjugation converts the bile acids into bile salts, which are anions (negatively charged ions).
Therefore, while bile acids are acids, bile salts are salts. Bile contains both, and it's important to differentiate between the two.
