1. Making bile

• fats / lipids are emulsified
• surface area of fats / lipids increased
• Bile is alkaline so pH of small intestine will be neutralised
• enzymes can work effectively and digest fats

2. Breaking down lactic acid

• Lactic acid is toxic and causes muscle pain / fatigue
• So it’s broken down using an oxygen debt

3. Breaking down amino acids and proteins

• amino acids are deaminated into ammonia
• any ammonia formed is toxic
• so it’s turned into urea

4. Removing toxins

• Otherwise toxins accumulate in blood / body
• and body will be poisoned so pain or portal hypertension occurs

5. Forming glycogen stores

• To control blood glucose
• Preventing hyperglycaemia / hypoglycaemia / diabetes / coma may occur