Ox bile / bile salts
Silver· human dataAlso known as: Bile salts
Supports fat digestion in people who lack bile, but not a general digestive aid.
Ox bile provides bile salts that emulsify dietary fat so it can be absorbed. It has a real rationale for people who lack adequate bile — for example after gallbladder removal or with certain liver and bile-duct conditions — helping them digest fat and fat-soluble vitamins.
For people with normal bile production it offers no clear benefit, and it should be used under guidance in the conditions where it does apply. It is a targeted aid, not a general digestive supplement.
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Written and reviewed by Mathew Beale, MSc Biotechnology, University of Reading.
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