What is the relationship between fatty acids and digestion?

Fatty acids play a crucial role in the process of digestion. When consumed as part of dietary fats, these fatty acids undergo several processes to be broken down and absorbed in the body. First, during digestion in the stomach, fatty acids are emulsified by bile salts, which helps to break them into smaller droplets and increase their surface area for further digestion. Then, in the small intestine, pancreatic lipase is released and acts on the emulsified fats, breaking down the triglycerides into monoglycerides and free fatty acids. These smaller molecules are then absorbed into the intestinal lining, where they are transported through the bloodstream to be utilized as an energy source or stored as adipose tissue. Therefore, the digestion of fatty acids is essential for their absorption and utilization in the body.

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