Final answer:
The majority of cholesterol in bile is reabsorbed and returned to the liver via the enterohepatic circulation, where it is recycled into newly formed bile or used for other bodily functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fate of the majority of cholesterol in bile after it is released into the small intestine is that it is reabsorbed and returned to the liver. This process is part of what is known as the enterohepatic circulation. Upon release into the small intestine, bile acids—which include cholesterol—work to emulsify fats during digestion. These bile acids are then absorbed back into the bloodstream in the ileum, a segment of the small intestine. Eventually, they return to the liver via the hepatic portal blood. The liver recycles these components into newly formed bile, conserving the body's resources.
While some cholesterol might be excreted in the feces or absorbed by intestinal cells to a lesser extent, approximately 50% of the excreted cholesterol is re-absorbed into the bloodstream as part of this efficient recycling system. This reclaimed cholesterol may be used by the body to create more bile or for other physiological functions such as synthesizing hormones or cell membranes.