An individual with a significantly reduced gallbladder undergoes cholecystectomy. What causes increased risk of fat malabsorption following this procedure?

💡 Explanation

Cholecystectomy reduces bile storage and concentration, leading to inadequate bile secretion during digestion. Insufficient emulsification of dietary lipids occurs because bile salts, released from the liver rather than the gallbladder, are not concentrated enough to efficiently break down fats; therefore, fat malabsorption increases rather than being processed effectively by intestinal enzymes.

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