Definition for Bile salts
From Biology Forums Dictionary
1) A group of substances produced in the liver that solubilize dietary fat and increase its accessibility to digestive enzymes.
2) Bile salts are amphiphilic derivatives of cholesterol, synthesized in the liver. They are negatively charged and function in the bile to solubilize dietary lipids, allowing easier breakdown and absorption in the intestine. The emulsification of dietary fat increases the surface-to-volume ratio that enhances enzymatic digestion and facilitates intestinal absorption. Bile salts are components of bile, which is stored in the gall bladder.