PRESENTATION OF BIOCHEMISTRY

TOPIC : ABSORPTION OF FATTY ACID

Group Members

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

WHAT IS FATS AND FATTY ACID?

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.

FATS AND FATTY ACID

Triglycerides

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

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.

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.

STRUCTURE OF FATTY ACID

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

Saturated FattyAcidsSaturated = 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.

EXAMPLE

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

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’.

UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS

They are the ‘healthy’ fats and are encouraged as part of a healthy diet as they:

oReduce heart diseaseoLower cholesterol  levelsoReplace saturated fat in the diet

EXAMPLE

Some examples of unsaturated fatty acids Palmitoleic Oleic Myristoleic acid

STRUCTURE OF SATURATED AND UNSATURATED FATTYACIDS

TYPES OF UNSATURATED FATTYACIDS

Unsaturated fatty acids can be further categories in;

Monounsaturated fatty acidsPolyunsaturated fatty acids

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

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.

 

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.

• 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.

OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS

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

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

GOOD VS BAD FATTY ACIDS

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)

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

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.

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.

Risk of Diseases

• Risks associated with high dietary fat intake:

• ↑ fat intake Obesity Cancer

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.

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