Give another function of bile, other than emulsifying fats, in relation to digestion.

• A. Digest carbohydrates
• B. Neutralises acidic chyme
• C. Absorbs fats
• D. Produces hormones

Answer: (B)

Bile helps digestion not only by emulsifying fats but also by neutralizing acidic chyme as it enters the small intestine. When chyme from the stomach is highly acidic, bile, which is alkaline because it contains bicarbonate, raises the pH in the duodenum. This neutral environment is important because it creates suitable conditions for the enzymes in the small intestine to work effectively and protects the lining of the gut.

Carbohydrate digestion is handled mainly by amylase, not bile. Absorption of fats occurs after emulsification and later steps in the intestine, not by bile itself. Hormones are produced by glands and tissues, not by bile. So, the alkalising, buffering role of bile is the best description of its other digestive function.