Specific Function of Bile Salts in Cholesterol Absorption.

Abstract

Entrance of cholesterol-4-C14 into the free cholesterol pool of mucosa and its subsequent transfer to the lymph requires the presence of a specific type of bile salt. This process does not require the presence of dietary fatty acid. It is suggested that free cholesterol in the lumen of the intestine complexes with bile salt which then enters the free cholesterol pool of mucosa.