METABOLISM OF LIPIDS

SYNOPSIS
 Digestion and Absorption of Fats and other Lipids
 Oxidation of Fatty acids (α, β and ω)
 Formation and Utilisation of ketone bodies
 Associated clinical disorders
 Cholesterol metabolism and Associated clinical
disorders
 Synthesis of Fatty acids and Phospholipids
 Fatty Liver and Lipotropic Factors
 Prostaglandins and their biological functions
 Lipoprotein Metabolism and its associated clinical
disorders
DIGESTION AND ABSORPTION
Digestion of Fats faces peculiar condition
due to the

* Insolubility of Fats in water

* Presence of Lipolytic enzymes in
Aqueous media

Problem is solved by the process called

emulsification
Digestion in Mouth and Stomach
 Lingual Lipase
-Digest Milk Fat
 Gastric Lipase
-Active at alkaline pH
-Requires Ca++ for action
Digestion in Small Intestine
 Major site
 Presence of Steapsin?
 Combined action of Bile and Pancreatic Juice
 Regulated by hormones
-Secretin -electrolytes and fluid
components of PJ
-Pancreozymin -Secretion of Pancreatic
Enzymes
-Cholecystokinin -Contraction of Gall
Bladder
Digestion and Absorption-Cholesterol

 Takes place in SI

 Cholesterol esterase (dual Activity)

 Absorbed in Free Form (unesterified)

 PUFA and Bile Salts are essential for

the absorption of Cholesterol
Digestion and Absorption-Phospholipids

 Directly absorbed without digestion

 Absorbed directly to portal blood and taken

to Liver

 Phospholipase A2 (Lecithinase)

 Some are incorporated in Chylomicrons

Clinical Importance
 Steatorrhoea
- caused due to impairment in the
digestion and absorption of Fats
 Etiology includes
 Biliary obstruction
 Pancreatic diseases
 Tropical Sprue (A chronic disorder that occurs in
tropical and non-tropical forms and in both
children and adults; nutrients are not absorbed;
symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhoea and
emaciation)
Chyluria
 Excretion of Fat in Urine

 Due to abnormal connection b/w

Lymphatic drainage system of
Intestine with Urinary Tract

 Forms Chylous Fistula

Chylothorax
 Accumulation of Lymph in Pleural
Space

 Abnormal connection b/w lymphatic

drainage of SI and Pleural Space

 Milky Pleural Effusion (Flow under

pressure)