Fats - Dietary

Description

Dietary Fats are the sum total of Lipids including Fatty Acids that are consumed via the diet.  Most dietary Fats are consumed in the form of Triglycerides.

Digestive System

 Dietary Fats suppress the Appetite (by slowing down the passage of Food through the Digestive Tract) - this effect occurs due to dietary Fats inhibiting the opening the Pylorus of the Stomach, thereby slowing down the passage of Foods into the Duodenum.  Dietary Fats also suppress Appetite by stimulating the release of Cholecystokinin (CCK)  ^[1]

Metabolism

 All dietary Fats can be utilized by the body in the production of Energy (dietary Fats are stored in Adipose Tissue as a storage mechanism for future Energy production).

Skin

 Dietary Fats are essential to the production of Sebum in the Sebaceous Glands:

 Caution:  excessive consumption of dietary Fats causes the production and secretion of excessive amounts of Sebum.

Carotenoids

 Dietary Fats (consumed in small, but not excessive quantities) may facilitate the absorption of dietary Carotenoids.  ^[2]

Hormones

 Dietary Fats may increase the production/release of Cholecystokinin (CCK) – different types of Dietary Fats stimulate CCK production to different degrees.  ^[3]

 Dietary Fats are required for the production of available (unbound to SHBG) Testosterone.  ^[4]

 Researchers have determined that Dietary Fats should comprise 25% to 30% of total calorie intake in order to maintain optimal Testosterone production.

Alkaloids

 Betaine may increase the Liver's efficiency in metabolizing dietary Fats. 

Amino Acids

 Taurine may facilitate the digestion of dietary Fats (due to it being an essential component of Bile as Sodium Taurocholate). 

Digestive System Chemicals

 The Bile Acids content of Bile are responsible for the initial emulsification of Triglycerides from dietary Fats in the Duodenum prior to their further digestion.

Enzymes

 Fat Digesting Enzymes are responsible for the digestion of dietary Fats after their emulsification by Bile.

 Lingual Lipase commences the digestion of dietary Fats in the Mouth and enhances the continuation of their digestion in the Stomach.

 Sodium Taurocholate (a component of Bile) facilitates the emulsification of dietary Fats prior to their further digestion.

Lipids

 Cholesterol may enhance the digestion of dietary Fats. 

 Phosphatidylcholine is the component of Bile that emulsifies dietary Fats.  ^[5]

Nucleic Compounds

 Acetyl Coenzyme A acts as a donor and receptor of Acetyl Groups in many reactions concerned with the metabolism of dietary Fats.

Vitamins

 Biotin is involved in the metabolism of Dietary Fats (via various Enzymes).  ^[6]

 Choline may prevent dietary Fats from accumulating in the Liver. 

 Inositol may facilitate the transport of dietary Fats from the Liver. 

 Vitamin B6 is essential for the absorption of dietary Fats. 

Seeds

 Fenugreek Seeds may improve the digestion of dietary Fats.