Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 11 : Digestion and Absorption of Fats

Steps in digestion of Lipids

Mouth	Chewing begins to separate fats
Stomach Pancreas Duodenum	Hydrochloric acid begins to break down fats and separate lipids from foods so that Pancreatic Lipase can begin splitting the fats.
Gall Bladder	Bile emulsifies fats, breaking them down further so that enzymes can act on individual Triglycerides to release Fatty Acids. Pancreatic Lipase splits Triglycerides into Diglycerides, Monoglycerides and Fatty Acids.
Small Intestine	Diglycerides and Monoglycerides are then hydrolyzed into their components:
	Fatty acids & Glycerol
	Shorter chain Fatty Acids (up to 12 carbons) are attracted to water and are absorbed directly through the intestinal wall. Longer chain Fatty Acids, Diglycerides and Monoglycerides are reconverted into Triglycerides to be transported through the intestinal wall with the help of GLYCEROL. The bloodstream then carries them to the LIVER.
Liver	The principal site of fat metabolism