Evidence supporting the use of: Ox
For the health condition: Protein Digestion (poor)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 3

Ox bile has been used traditionally in Western and Eastern medicine to support digestion, particularly in cases of poor protein and fat digestion. The rationale is that ox bile contains bile acids, which assist in the emulsification and absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins. While bile itself does not directly digest proteins (this is the role of proteases like pepsin and trypsin), traditional medicine systems often used bile extracts to generally "stimulate" digestion. Some early 20th-century and naturopathic texts recommended ox bile as a digestive aid for those with symptoms suggestive of low bile production (such as after gallbladder removal), which sometimes co-occurred with poor protein digestion.

Scientifically, the evidence for ox bile specifically improving protein digestion is limited. Most modern research focuses on its role in fat digestion. There is, however, indirect support: by improving overall digestive secretions and motility, bile supplementation may help optimize the digestive environment for all macronutrients, including proteins. Still, there are no robust clinical trials directly linking ox bile supplementation to enhanced protein digestion in humans. In summary, the use of ox bile for this purpose is primarily rooted in tradition, with moderate (but not strong) historical support and little direct scientific validation specifically for protein digestion.

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