Bile salt dependent lipase

Bile salt dependent lipase (or BSDL) is an enzyme produced by the adult pancreas and aids in the digestion of fats. Bile salt stimulated lipase (or BSSL) is an equivalent enzyme found within breast milk. BSDL has been found in the pancreatic secretions of all species in which it has been looked for. BSSL, originally discovered in the milk of humans and various other primates, has since been found in the milk of many animals including dogs, cats, rats and rabbits.^[1]

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Enzymatic activity

More than 95% of the fat present in human milk and in infant formulas is in the form of triacylglycerols (TG).^[2] In adults TGs are mainly thought to be broken down or hydrolized by the colipase-dependent lipase enzyme. In the newborn, CDL activity in the duodenum is lower than in adults.^[2]

Both BSDL and BSSL have a broad substrate specificity and like CDL are capable of hydrolyzing triacylglycerides (in addition to phospholipids, esters of cholesterol and lipid soluble vitamins). BSDL production in the newborn pancreas is quite low when compared with production in the mammary gland or adult pancreas.^[3]

However newborn infants absorb lipids relatively well, considering the low level of CDL and BSDL they produce. This observation has led to the suggestion that BSDL produced by lactating mammary gland and present within milk, may compensate for the low levels of other TG digesting enzymes and aid newborns in lipid absorption.

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