Chapter 24, Problem 24.21AP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The purpose of bile acids in digestion of lipids should be determined.

Concept introduction:

Lipids are biomolecules that are soluble in organic solvents and insoluble in water. They are defined on the basis of a physical property not by a particular functional group, thus they have a variety of structures and functions.

Lipids are insoluble in aqueous solution. The digestive enzymes are present in aqueous medium which leads certain problem in digestion of lipids. This can be overcomes by following ways,

Increasing the surface area of lipids for digestion

Emulsification of lipids by bile salts

Solubilizing the digested product for absorption

There are different types of enzymes which work behind the digestion of lipids. Lipase enzyme is one such type of enzyme.

Bile acid is a cholesterol derivative that functions as a lipid emulsifying agent in the aqueous environment of the digestive tract.

Emulsification causes fat globules to break down or be emulsified into minute, microscopic droplets.