Question

Fat digestion is facilitated by
a. Bile salts
b. Pancreatic juice
c. Gastric juice
d. None of the above

Answer 1

Fat digestion refers to the ability to break down fat molecules. Fat absorption refers to the body's ability to take in and use these fats. The ability to absorb and digest fat is very important for the overall health and quality of life. The enzyme, Lipase, helps in digesting fat molecules into smaller molecules, such as fatty acids and glycerol, which are easier for the body to absorb.

Complete answer:
Bile is produced by the liver, stores, and secreted by the gallbladder. It is alkaline in nature. When the chyme enters into the first part of the small intestine i.e., duodenum, bile, and pancreatic juice mixed with chyme. Bile salt combines with phospholipids in chyme and emulsifies the hydrophobic end with lipid and hydrophilic end with water, and breaks down the insoluble lipid globule into the simple form by enzymatic activity.

Bile contains bile acids. These are critical for digestion and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the small intestine. Bile salts emulsify the fats and later on digested by enzyme lipase. The pancreas produces a juice, which is called the pancreatic juice, containing several enzymes that break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in food.

Gastric juice helps to keep the food particles soluble. It initiates digestion (majorly of proteins), and converts the gastric contents to chyme which is a semiliquid mass, thus preparing it for further digestion in the small intestine.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: The ability to break down fat molecules into smaller molecules is known as fat digestion. Bile juice is produced by the liver. Through a series of steps involving the chyme combining with the bile salts, which leads to the emulsification and then a breakdown of the insoluble lipid globule into the simple form undergoing enzymatic activity.