BileSpec 4.2.2.1
Bile is made in the liver and stored in the gall bladder. It is released into the small intestine.
Bile does two jobs:
- It is alkaline, so it neutralises hydrochloric acid that comes from the stomach. This gives the enzymes in the small intestine the alkaline conditions they work best in.
- It emulsifies fat, breaking it into small droplets. This increases the surface area of the fat.
The alkaline conditions and the large surface area increase the rate of fat breakdown by lipase.