GI 16 Flashcards
What is the majority of fat in the diet in the form of?
Triglycerides
How much of fat is absorbed?
About 95% that is consumed
What is the primary goal of fat digestion?
To break the triglycerides into free fatty acids
What is a key factor in driving the process of fat absorption?
Its insolubility in water
Why must fat be emulsified prior to digestion?
Because dietary fat is insoluble in water
What happens when fat is emulsified?
Large fat globules are broken down to be more readily available to digestive enzymes
What two things does the emulsification of fat require?
- Mechanical digestion
* Emulsifying agents contained in bile
What are the emulsifying agents contained in bile?
Phospholipids and Bile Salts
What is unique about the Phospholipids and Bile Salts?
They are amphipathic
How do the emulsifying agents work?
Mechanical digestion breaks the fat into smaller droplets and then the amphipathic molecules coat them to stop reformation of the fat globules
What is Lipolysis?
The process of fat breakdown
What happens after Triglycerides are emulsified?
They are acted on by lipase enzymes secreted from the pancreas
What does Colipase do?
Allows the water soluble pancreatic lipase to bind to the surface of the fat droplet
What are the products of lipolysis?
Monoglycerides and free fatty acids
Why can’t pancreatic lipase bind to the fat droplet itself?
Because it it water soluable
