Bile – The Fluid of Digestion

Guyton, A. C. & Hall, J. E. (2016). Textbook of Medical Physiology. Elsevier.
Comprehensive coverage of bile composition, production, and its role in lipid digestion and nutrient absorption.

Furness, J. B. (2006). The Enteric Nervous System. Blackwell Publishing.
Explores the coordination between bile production, gut motility, and nutrient assimilation.

Carey, M. C. & Small, D. M. (1978). “The physical chemistry of cholesterol solubility in bile: The hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of bile salts.” New England Journal of Medicine. 298(17), 873–879.
Describes bile salts’ amphipathic nature and their role in fat emulsification.

Russell, D. W. (2003). “The enzymes, regulation, and genetics of bile acid synthesis.” Annual Review of Biochemistry, 72, 137–174.
Outlines the metabolic pathways of bile acid production and their systemic importance.

Carey, M. C., Small, D. M., & Bliss, C. M. (1983). “Lipid digestion and absorption.” Annual Review of Physiology, 45, 651–677.
Details the process of micelle formation and fat absorption mediated by bile acids.

Marlett, J. A., McBurney, M. I., Slavin, J. L., & American Dietetic Association (2002). Position of the American Dietetic Association: health implications of dietary fiber. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 102(7), 993–1000. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0002-8223(02)90228-2
Examines fibre’s role in gut health, bile acid clearance, and systemic detoxification.

Wahlström, A., Sayin, S. I., Marschall, H. U., & Bäckhed, F. (2016). “Intestinal crosstalk between bile acids and microbiota and its impact on host metabolism.” Cell Metabolism, 24(1), 41–50.
Investigates the dynamic relationship between bile acids and gut microbiota in regulating metabolic health.

Duboc, H., Rajca, S., Rainteau, D., et al. (2013). “Connecting dysbiosis, bile-acid dysmetabolism, and gut inflammation in inflammatory bowel diseases.” Gut, 62(4), 531–539.
Highlights the connection between bile acid imbalances and gut health issues.

Lefebvre, P., Cariou, B., & Lien, F. et al. (2009). “Role of bile acids and bile acid receptors in metabolic regulation.” Physiological Reviews, 89(1), 147–191.
Provides an overview of bile’s role in cholesterol homeostasis via the FXR and TGR5 pathways.

Brown, M. S. & Goldstein, J. L. (1986). “A receptor-mediated pathway for cholesterol homeostasis.” Science, 232(4746), 34–47.
Explains how bile acid synthesis affects LDL cholesterol levels and systemic balance.

Kullak-Ublick, G. A., Stieger, B., & Meier, P. J. (2004). “Enterohepatic bile salt transporters in normal physiology and liver disease.” Gastroenterology, 126(1), 322–342.
Details the mechanisms of bile recycling and its implications for cholesterol regulation.

Ungar, P. S. (2012). Evolution of the Human Diet: The Known, the Unknown, and the Unknowable. Oxford University Press.
Discusses dietary and digestive adaptations in human evolution, including the importance of fat digestion and the supporting role of bile.

Wrangham, R. W. (2009). Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human. Basic Books.
Explores how increased fat consumption through cooking drove bile system adaptations.

Sherwood, L., Klandorf, H., & Yancey, P. H. (2015). Animal Physiology: From Genes to Organisms. Brooks/Cole.
Compares bile function across species, emphasising its evolutionary importance.

Di Ciaula, A., Garruti, G., Lunardi Baccetto, R., et al. (2017). “Bile acid physiology.” Annals of Hepatology, 16(Suppl. 1), s4–s14.
Discusses bile dysregulation’s role in gallstones, metabolic disease, and inflammation.

Arab, J. P., Karpen, S. J., Arrese, M., et al. (2017). “Bile acid metabolism and signalling in liver disease.” Journal of Hepatology, 67(3), 619–631.
Reviews the metabolism and signalling pathways of bile acids, highlighting their roles in liver health, disease mechanisms, and systemic metabolic regulation.

Chiang J. Y. (2013). Bile acid metabolism and signaling. Comprehensive Physiology, 3(3), 1191–1212.
A comprehensive review of bile acids as endocrine signalling molecules, detailing their effects on glucose, lipid metabolism, and systemic regulation.

Distrutti, E., Santucci, L., Cipriani, S., et al. (2015). “Bile acid activated receptors are targets for regulation of integrity of gastrointestinal mucosa.” Journal of Gastroenterology, 50(7), 707–719.
This review explores how bile acids act as signalling molecules through specific receptors, to maintain intestinal integrity and protect against mucosal injury.

Turnbaugh, P. J., Ley, R. E., Mahowald, M. A., et al. (2006). “An obesity-associated gut microbiome with increased capacity for energy harvest.” Nature, 444(7122), 1027–1031.
Links bile acid metabolism, gut microbiota imbalances, and metabolic disorders.

Ridlon, J. M., Kang, D. J., & Hylemon, P. B. (2006). “Bile salt biotransformations by human intestinal bacteria.” Journal of Lipid Research, 47(2), 241–259.
Explores how human intestinal bacteria transform bile salts, highlighting the metabolic and health implications of microbial-bile acid interactions.