Further characterization of the bile salt-stimulated lipase in human milk.

Bile salt-stimulated lipase is a milk enzyme unique to the higher primates. Its molecular and kinetic characteristics differ greatly from other lipolytic enzymes; e.g., pancreatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase. It has a much higher app. Mr, 310000 on gel filtration and 100000 after denaturation. It requires primary bile salts for optimal activity and bile salts also protect the enzyme from proteolytic and heat inactivation. It may, due to its low substrate specificity, contribute to the utilization of a variety of milk lipids. Since it lacks positional specificity, digestion of milk triglycerides should be complete, which may explain why fat absorption is more efficient in breast-fed than in formula-fed infants.