What makes bile alkaline

It kills many harmful microorganisms that might have been swallowed along with the food. The enzymes in the stomach work best in acidic conditions — at a low pH. After it has been in the stomach, food travels to the small intestine. Gallstones , most of which are composed predominantly of cholesterol, result from processes that allow cholesterol to precipitate from solution in bile. Bile acids are derivatives of cholesterol synthesized in the hepatocyte. Cholesterol, ingested as part of the diet or derived from hepatic synthesis is converted into the bile acids cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids, which are then conjugated to an amino acid glycine or taurine to yield the conjugated form that is actively secreted into cannaliculi.

Bile acids are facial amphipathic, that is, they contain both hydrophobic lipid soluble and polar hydrophilic faces.

The cholesterol-derived portion of a bile acid has one face that is hydrophobic that with methyl groups and one that is hydrophilic that with the hydroxyl groups ; the amino acid conjugate is polar and hydrophilic. Hepatic synthesis of bile acids accounts for the majority of cholesterol breakdown in the body.

In humans, roughly mg of cholesterol are converted to bile acids and eliminated in bile every day. This route for elimination of excess cholesterol is probably important in all animals, but particularly in situations of massive cholesterol ingestion.

Bile is often suspected of contributing to GERD when people respond incompletely or not at all to powerful acid-suppressant medications.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Bile reflux Open pop-up dialog box Close. Bile reflux Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Townsend CM Jr, et al. Elsevier; Accessed Jan. Brunicardi FC, et al. In: Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. McGraw-Hill; Rakel D, ed. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. In: Integrative Medicine. In addition to bile salts, bile contains cholesterol, water, bile acids and the pigment bilirubin.

The role of bile and bile salts in the body is to:. Bile and bile salts are made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder between meals. After we eat and there are fats present in our digestive tracts, our hormones send a signal to our gallbladders to release bile. The bile is released into the first part of our small intestine called the duodenum. This is where most of the digestion happens.

The bile helps to process and digest the fats. Another primary function of bile is to remove toxins. Toxins are secreted into the bile and eliminated in feces. A lack of bile salts can cause a buildup of toxins in our bodies. Bile deficiency can also cause a problem with the formation of hormones , as all hormones are made from fats. Bile salts are produced by the hepatocyte cells in the liver and are derived from cholesterol. When an alkaline substance meets an acid, it causes a neutralizing reaction.

This reaction produces water and the chemical salts called bile salts. People with bile salt deficiency may try bile salt supplements to counteract these symptoms.