1. PRESENTATION OF
BIOCHEMISTRY
TOPIC : ABSORPTION
OF FATTY ACID

2. Group Members

3. Learning Objectives
Understand
Fats terminology and
classifications
Understand the digestion and
absorption of Fats
Learn about the function
of Fats in the diet, and
How they relate to health
issues

4.  Fats are a group of chemical
compounds that contain fatty acids.
 Fatty acids are the building blocks of
the fat in our bodies and in the food we
eat.
 During digestion, the body breaks down
fats into fatty acids, which can then be
absorbed into the blood.

6. Triglycerides
Triglycerides
All triglycerides
are made up of
a fork-like
structure in
which glycerol
and 3 building
blocks of fatty
acids.

7. WHAT IS GLYCEROL?
Glycerol a clear, colorless, viscous,
sweet-tasting liquid belonging to the
alcohol family of organic compounds
glycerol was obtained as a by-product
in making soaps from animal and
vegetable fats and oils.

8. STRUCTURE OF FATTY ACID
• Long-chain carboxylic acids
• Typically 12-18 carbon atoms
• Fatty acids vary in the length of
their carbon atom chain (from 4 to
22) and the number of double
bonds they contain.

9. STRUCTURE OF FATTY ACID

10. TYPES OF FATTYACID
Fatty acids are classified according to the
number of double bonds they possess.
There are two types of fatty acids.
1. Saturated fatty acids
2. Unsaturated fatty acids

11. Saturated FattyAcids
Saturated = C–C bonds
 Saturated fatty acids are long chains
fatty acid which lack double bonds
between carbon atoms in their structure.
These bonds are highly saturated with
hydrogen atoms Saturated fatty acids are
fats that can not break down in body
collect, in places in body and get stored.

12. EXAMPLE
Some examples of saturated fatty acids
 Acetic acid
 Butyric acid
 Caproic acid
 Palmitic acids.

13. UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
Unsaturated = one or more C=C bonds
• Unsaturated fatty acids are fatty acids with one
or more double bonds between carbon
atoms.They are unsaturated fatty acids
because their double bond are unsaturated.
• They can be saturated by adding hydrogen
atoms and thus converting the double bonds
into single bonds. The carbon atoms on
bothside of double bond can occur in two
different configuration namely CIS and
‘TRANS’.

14. UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
They are the ‘healthy’ fats and are
encouraged as part of a healthy diet as
they:
o Reduce heart disease
o Lower cholesterol levels
o Replace saturated fat in the diet

15. EXAMPLE
Some examples of unsaturated fatty
acids
 Palmitoleic
 Oleic
 Myristoleic acid

16. STRUCTURE OF SATURATED AND
UNSATURATED FATTYACIDS

17. TYPES OF UNSATURATED
FATTYACIDS
Unsaturated fatty acids can be
further categories in;
Monounsaturated fatty acids
Polyunsaturated fatty acids

18. TYPES OF UNSATURATED
FATTYACIDS
MONOUNSATURATED
fatty acids have one double bond in the
molecule, e.g. oleic acid plamitoleic acid
found in most animal and plant fats and
oils, especially olive oil

19. TYPES OF UNSATURATED
FATTYACIDS
POLYUNSATURATED
fatty acids have more than one double bond
in the molecule, e.g. linolenic acid, also
known as Omega 3 and linoleic acid, also
known as Omega 6.

20. OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS
• Omega 3 fatty acids also called w-3 are poly
unsaturated fatty acids with a double
bond(c=c) at the third carbon atom from the
end of the carbon chain, refer to a group of
three fats called ALA (found in plant oil) EPA
and DHA both commonly
found in marine oil.

21. OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS
• ALA( a-linolenic acid 18 carbon and 3
double bond) to form a more
important long chain
• EPA(eicosapentaenoic acid) 20
carbons and 5 double bonds and then
from EPA, the most crucial DHA
(docosahexaenoic acid) 22 carbons
and 6 double bonds with even greater
inefficiency is formed.

22. OMEGA 6 FATTY ACIDS
• OMEGA 6 fatty acids are also referred to as W-6 fatty
acids or N-6 fatty acids are a family of unsaturated
fatty acids that have a common carbon double bond in
the n-6 position that is the sixth bond counting from
the metyl end.
• Dietary sources include poultry, egg, avocado, nuts,
cereals and whole grains

23. SOURCE OF FATTY ACIDS
• Fatty acids are found in oils and other fats that
make up different foods.
• Through animal sources we can also get fatty
acids e.g. meat.
• Fat also present in dairy
products, like milk, egg yolk.
• Also present in fish

24. GOOD VS BAD FATTY ACIDS

25. Digestion
• Mouth: chewing, lingual lipase present in
mouth
• Stomach: gastric lipase
• Small Intestine: bile, Secretin = pancreatic
juice (pancreatic lipase)
• Micelles: tiny emulsified fat packets that
can enter intestinal cells (enterocytes)

26. ABSORPTION
• Most fat absorption takes place in the
duodenum or jejunum – micelles carry
monoglycerides and free fatty acids to the
brush border where they diffuse into
enterocytes
• Bile salts are absorbed in the ileum

28. ABSORPTION
• Once these lipoproteins leave the cell,
they become CHYLOMICRONS and enter
the lymph system
• Short-chain fatty acids and glycerol are
absorbed directly into bloodstream. They
do not enter the lymph system.
• Cholesterol and other sterols are poorly
absorbed. Overall, about 50% of dietary
cholesterol is absorbed.

30. Fatty acids Used to
Regulate Blood Sugar Levels
• Fatty acids are also important for controlling
and regulating metabolic reactions. When
your body experiences low blood glucose or
increased metabolic demand due to physical
activity, it needs more energy
• When your energy balance shifts with
variations in physical activity and your food
intake, fatty acids metabolism is adjusted to
accommodate the changes.

31. Risk of Diseases
• Risks associated with high dietary
fat intake:
• ↑ fat intake
Obesity
Cancer

32. FUNCTIONS OF FATTY ACIDS
 They are an important part of a healthy diet,
because the body needs them for several
purposes.
 Fatty acids help move oxygen through the
bloodstream to all parts of the body. They aid
cell membrane development, strength, and
function, and they are necessary for strong
organs and tissue.
 Fatty acids can also help keep skin healthy, help
prevent early aging, and may promote weight
loss by helping the body process cholesterol.

33. FUNCTIONS OF FATTY ACIDS
 More importantly, they help rid the arteries of
cholesterol build up. Another purpose of fatty
acids is to assist thyroid glands, which may also
help regulate weight.
 Essential fatty acids assist in the development
and function of the brain and nervous system,
They also help you look good, as a diet
low in these fatty acids has been shown to
create skin problems, including eczema,
dandruff, split nails and brittle hair