Which of the following is a component of bile?

• A. Pancreatic amylase
• B. Bile salts
• C. Mucins
• D. Gastrin

Answer: (B)

Bile salts are a major component of bile and are essential for fat digestion because they emulsify fats, increasing the surface area for lipases to act. They are formed in the liver by conjugating bile acids with glycine or taurine and are secreted into bile to aid micelle formation. Pancreatic amylase is an enzyme from the pancreas that digests starch, not a constituent of bile. Mucins are mucus glycoproteins found in protective secretions, not a primary bile component. Gastrin is a hormone that stimulates gastric acid secretion in the stomach, not part of bile.