Roles of bile acid conjugates and phospholipids in in vitro activation of pancreatic lipase by bear bile and cattle bile.

J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Sep 7;125(2):203-6

Authors: Watanabe S, Kamei T, Tanaka K, Kawasuji K, Yoshioka T, Ohno M

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bear bile (BB) originally used as a traditional Chinese medicine has also been adopted in Japan as a traditional home remedy mainly for gastrointestinal problems due to impaired digestion. However, recently, efforts have been made to find alternatives to BB for ecological and ethical reasons. AIMS OF THE STUDY: To find alternatives to BB for facilitating fat digestion, we compared the potency of cattle bile (CB) or synthetic mixtures of major bile components to activate pancreatic lipase with that of BB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The compositions of bile acid conjugates and phospholipids in BB and CB were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography, respectively. The effects of BB and CB as well synthetic mixtures of bile acid conjugates and phospholipids on pancreatic lipase activity in vitro were examined. RESULTS: BB and CB contained markedly different types and quantities of bile acid conjugates and phospholipids, although the potencies of BB and CB to activate pancreatic lipase were not significantly different. The potency of BB to activate pancreatic lipase was reconstituted by the major bile acid conjugates and phospholipids found in BB. In contrast, only bile acid conjugates found in CB could reconstitute its potency to activate pancreatic lipase. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations indicate that CB or the synthetic mixture of bile components can be used as an alternative to BB for facilitating fat digestion.

Dr. Steve’s BOTTOM LINE: In most areas, it is a lot easier to find cattle than bear products, and it’s a lot cheaper. As noted in the article, it is also an ethical concern since bears are illegally hunted and farmed for their bile and claws. This study shows that the activation of pancreatic lipase, an enzyme which is critical to fat digestion, is equally possible using either bear or cattle bile acids. Basically bile is excreted by the liver of any animal (including humans) and stored in the gallbladder, where it’s released into the stomach for digestion.