bile acid

noun

Physiology.

1. any of various steroid acids, produced in the liver and stored with bile, that emulsify fats during digestion.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bile acid¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Using both mouse models and human tumor samples, they discovered that certain bile acids -- molecules produced by the liver to aid digestion -- can interfere with cancer-fighting immune cells known as T cells.

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The study says calcium may protect against bowel cancer "because it is able to bind to bile acids and free fatty acids in the colon, lowering their potentially carcinogenic effects".

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Interestingly, the substitution of Glycine by Arginine in mNTCP was at a position far away from the binding site for bile acid.

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Previous studies have suggested that bile acids can bind and activate TAS2R14, but little is known about how and where they bind in the receptor.

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In addition to aiding digestion, bile acids are also important signaling molecules that help regulate the immune system and serve important metabolic functions, such as controlling lipid and glucose metabolism.

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