All of the following hydrolyze fat in the small intestine EXCEPT

• A. Pancreatic lipase
• B. Bile acids
• C. Phospholipase
• D. Cholesterol esterase hydrolase

Answer: (B)

Fat digestion in the small intestine relies on enzymes that hydrolyze the main lipid types present. Pancreatic lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides into monoglycerides and free fatty acids. Pancreatic phospholipase A2 targets phospholipids, yielding lysophospholipids and fatty acids. Cholesterol esterase hydrolyzes cholesterol esters to cholesterol and fatty acids. Bile acids, by contrast, are detergents that emulsify fats and help form micelles, increasing surface area for enzymes, but they do not carry out hydrolysis themselves. Therefore, bile acids do not hydrolyze fat, making them the exception.