Bile salts are one of the primary components of bile, a greenish-yellow fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder

. Bile salts help with the digestion of fats and aid in the absorption of fat- soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K

. After eating, hormones signal the gallbladder to release bile, which is then released directly into the small intestine, where it helps break down and digest fats present in food

. Bile salts also play a role in eliminating waste products

. In addition, bile salts have antimicrobial activity and can protect against gram-positive bacteria that grow in the gut