W4-L4: Fats I Flashcards
How does the Mouth play a role in the digestion and absorption of fats?
The digestion of fats begins in the mouth through mechanical actions (chewing) and
The enzyme lingual lipase, which initiates the breakdown of triglycerides into diglycerides and free fatty acids.
How does the Small intestine play a role in the digestion and absorption of fats?
Partially broken-down droplets arrive at the small intestine.
Bile salts emulsify fats, enhancing their surface area for further digestion.
Pancreatic lipase break the units into free fatty acids, glycerol, cholesterol and phospholipids for absorption
What happens to the breakdown products of digested fats?
Breakdown products are repackaged as chylomicrons within intestinal cells (enterocytes) to help with transport.
Large chylomicrons enter the lymphatic system before being released into the bloodstream
What happens to the fatty acid products?
Fatty acids are delivered to adipose tissue for storage or muscle cells for energy
Why are dietary fats Important for diet?
- Dense source of energy - 9 kcals/g
- Provide essential fats (cant make in body)
- Rich source of Vitamins A, D, E, K
Makes food highly palatable!
What are the classification of Lipids?
What are Phospholipids?
Naturally found in some foods (eggs, liver); added to others as emulsifiers (salad dressings)
Composed of fatty acids, a phosphate group and a glycerol backbone (some may include alcohol as part of their structure)
Abundant in all biological membranes in the body
* Allow absorption of substances across the cell membrane
* Maintain membrane fluidity and integrity
What are emulsifiers?
allow for water and fat to mix
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What are Sterols?
A structural component of cell membranes; aids in the repair and formation of new cells;
necessary for synthesizing steroid hormones
(e.g., testosterone) and bile acids
Can be synthesized in the body – so we are not dependent on dietary sources
Where are Sterols most commonly found?
- Animal sterol (cholesterol) is most common e.g., cholesterol found in eggs, meat, poultry, cheese, milk
Are there any Sterols found in plant and fungi?
Plant sterols are similar in structure to cholesterol and interfere with the body’s absorption of cholesterol in the intestines.
This interference can help lower LDL cholesterol levels and may contribute to improved heart health (e.g. becel, flora\pro-active)
What are Lipoproteins?
What are the 3 Types?
Lipoproteins are particles in the bloodstream that transport cholesterol, triglycerides & other fats throughout the body.
Lipoproteins differ in density and function, and they play distinct roles in cholesterol transport and metabolism
- VLDL –Very Low Density Lipoprotein
- LDL – Low Density Lipoprotein “Bad Cholesterol”
- HDL – High Density Lipoprotein “Good Cholesterol”
What are Very Low Density Lipoproteins?
(VLDL)
- Produced by the liver
- Carries cholesterol and triglycerides from the liver to other tissues in the body where they are needed.
- Once it delivers triglycerides to the cells it becomes LDL
What are Low Density Lipoproteins? (LDL)
(AKA “Bad Cholesterol”)
- carries cholesterol to tissues that need it (e.g. to build cell membranes, produce hormones)
- excess LDL in the blood can deposit cholesterol in the walls of arteries, forming plaques – causing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes
What are High Density Lipoproteins? (HDL)
(AKA “Good Cholesterol”)
- collects excess cholesterol from the bloodstream, tissues, and plaques in arteries
- transports it back to the liver for Recycling (to make bile acids or new cholesterol) or elimination from the body
What are Saturated Fats?
What Charcateristics do they have?
A type of fat molecule that has no double bonds b/w carbon atoms in its fatty acid chains, meaning it is “saturated” with hydrogen atoms.
- Physical State: Typically solid at room temperature.
- Stability: More resistant to oxidation compared to unsaturated fats, which means they have a longer shelf life.
