Bile salts are primarily used in the digestion and absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the small intestine. They emulsify fats, breaking them down into smaller droplets, which increases the surface area for digestive enzymes like lipase to act upon. This process enhances the efficiency of fat digestion and nutrient absorption.

In the pharmaceutical industry, bile salts are utilized as excipients in drug formulations to improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. They are also employed in research laboratories as components of cell culture media to facilitate the growth of certain cell types and to study bile acid metabolism and related diseases.

Additionally, bile salts are used in diagnostic tests to assess liver function and bile acid synthesis. They play a role in cholesterol homeostasis, making them relevant in studies focused on cholesterol management and cardiovascular health. In some cases, synthetic bile salts are administered therapeutically to patients with bile acid deficiencies or disorders like cholestasis.