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Fat metabolism: what exactly is it and how does it work?

Miriam WeihermĂĽller

Fat metabolism is very important for our health. But how does it work and what happens when it gets out of balance?

How does fat metabolism work?

Fat metabolism, also known as lipid metabolism in medical terminology, refers to all metabolic processes that are responsible for the absorption and utilization of fats (lipids). Fat metabolism therefore promotes the absorption of dietary fats in the intestines and the generation of energy in the cells from existing fat reserves. But how exactly does fat metabolism work and what health consequences does a malfunctioning metabolism have? You can find out more about this in this article.

What exactly is metabolism?

Metabolism is a central focus, especially when it comes to healthy body weight management. A well-functioning metabolism is definitely an important lever that each of us can and should use to bring our weight, our own well-being and our health into balance.

Metabolism – known in medical terminology as metabolism – includes all biochemical processes that take place in the organism. However, there is not just one type of metabolism in the body, but rather different types of metabolism, which are named after the substances that are processed as part of these processes:

  • Carbohydrate metabolism: This controls the absorption, transport and breakdown of carbohydrates. The most important representative of carbohydrates is glucose (simple sugar).
  • Protein metabolism: This metabolism begins in the stomach and ends in the small intestine: Here in the gastrointestinal tract, special enzymes ensure the breakdown of proteins and the release of the resulting amino acids into the bloodstream.
  • Mineral metabolism: Here the minerals are processed so that they can fulfil their functions in the organism.
  • Anabolism: This so-called building metabolism includes all processes that are responsible for the construction of body tissues, such as new muscle mass or new cell tissue.
  • Catabolism: This so-called starvation metabolism refers to the breakdown of metabolic products in order to provide new energy. For example, when on a diet, the organism supplies itself with usable energy. This is provided by the muscles and the nutrients they contain.
  • Fat metabolism: Fat metabolism (lipid metabolism) begins with the absorption of fats from food. The small intestine absorbs the fats contained in it and releases them into the blood. The fats then reach the organs that need them via the bloodstream. Finally, the liver - one of the main organs of fat metabolism - converts or breaks down the fats.

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Fat as a pure fattening agent? – What functions does fat have in the body?

Along with proteins and carbohydrates, fats are one of the main nutrients (macronutrients) in the diet. As part of a balanced, wholesome diet, these nutrients are of fundamental importance for the body. Fats are an indispensable source of energy, but they also promote many other processes in the body.

Unfortunately, some nutritional myths still persist, such as that fat makes you fat. But that is not the case, on the contrary: the right, valuable fats even support weight loss and improve your health!

Fats perform many important functions in the human body:

  • Fats are a component of important body structures such as cell membranes, as well as an important starting material for other biologically active substances.
  • Fats provide the organism with important energy.
  • Above all, “good fats” supply the body with essential fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Fats are an important flavor carrier in food.
  • This major nutrient is also a very important energy store, providing effective protection against body heat loss.
  • This main nutrient is a fundamentally important cushioning and supporting element, for example for internal organs such as the kidneys.
  • Dietary fats are essential for the body to absorb and utilize fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

Not all fat is the same: types and forms of fat

Basically, two types of fat can be distinguished:

  1. Structural fat

This fat is very important for your body because it has a protective function. For example, it protects the internal organs of the body from excessive pressure. The structural fat can be found, for example, on the buttocks, under the soles of the feet or on the body joints.

  1. Storage fat

The amount of this "deposit fat" must be kept in a balanced level. If the storage fat depots become too large, this can have serious consequences for your health. Storage fat can be found in the subcutaneous tissue, for example on the stomach, but also on the bottom.

Subcutaneous fat and visceral fat

A further distinction can also be made: subcutaneous fat is the so-called subcutaneous fat. Much more dangerous, however, is the so-called visceral fat (belly fat), which surrounds the internal organs such as the liver or intestines. Belly fat is the largest hormonally active organ and is considered a precursor to many dangerous diseases: it constantly releases hormones and dangerous inflammatory substances. This in turn creates a foundation for the development of diseases such as high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis or diabetes. Belly fat disrupts insulin and blood sugar levels and, due to its inflammatory effect, also causes cholesterol to rise to dangerous levels. The "good" HDL cholesterol gradually decreases, while at the same time the "bad" LDL cholesterol continues to rise. In summary, belly fat promotes a disturbed fat metabolism and dangerous deposits in the blood vessels.

White fat and brown fat – what’s behind them?

The dangerous visceral fat on the stomach is what is known as “white fat”. If there is too much white fat, there is an overproduction of harmful inflammatory substances in the body.

In contrast, there is brown fat tissue, which is of central importance for your fat burning. But white and brown fat tissue differ from each other in more than just their appearance. Brown fat tissue uses significantly more calories than white fat tissue and releases more energy in the process. This gets the metabolism going and the body temperature settles at a comfortable 37 degrees Celsius. The more energy this fat tissue produces, the more white fat is broken down to provide energy. Unfortunately, the amount of this brown fat decreases over the course of life. An incorrect lifestyle also contributes to the reduction of brown fat tissue.

Babies have the largest brown fat deposits! They don't have enough muscle mass to produce valuable heat by shivering. To prevent the small infant body from cooling down, the brown fat tissue is used as a "heating system". We adults only have a few brown fat deposits, mainly along the spine and in the shoulder and neck area.

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How exactly does fat metabolism work?

In order to digest dietary fats, the triglycerides contained in the fat must be broken down into glycerol and individual fatty acids as part of the fat metabolism.

  • The digestion of fats begins in the mouth, because this is where the nutrient comes into contact with certain enzymes contained in saliva, the so-called lipases.
  • The fats pass through the esophagus together with the other food components into the stomach for further digestion. Fats are not isolated in the food pulp, but rather in chain-like particles. The rhythmic movements of the stomach break the fat drops into smaller droplets (emulsification). This allows the fats to be mixed with the rest of the chewed food pulp. The fats contained are thus ideally prepared to be further digested and utilized in the intestine.
  • The main fat digestion takes place in the small intestine, where the individual fat particles are further broken down and distributed with the help of bile acid. Additional lipases (enzymes) from the pancreas can then further break down the fatty acids. The bile acid then forms a water-soluble coat around the fats, creating a structure consisting of a water-soluble shell and a fatty core, which is released through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream.
  • In combination with proteins and cholesterol, the fats can now be transported throughout the entire body system.

The fats made available by the fat metabolism can now either be used as an energy source or stored in the form of body fat in the body's storage depots. Short-chain and medium-chain fats are not absorbed via the bloodstream in the fat metabolism, but via the central organ of fat metabolism, the liver ! This important organ converts the fatty acids into so-called ketone bodies and thus makes them into immediately available sources of energy. Short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids therefore do not cause an increase in the body's fat content, as do long-chain fats, which are stored in the body's fat stores.

What are the consequences of a malfunctioning fat metabolism?

If the fat metabolism gets out of balance, this can encourage the development of many dangerous diseases. For example, it can lead to fat metabolism disorders that are associated with increased cholesterol levels or increased triglyceride levels - in some cases even both. The dangerous thing about this is that increased blood fat levels do not cause any symptoms for a long time. However, the long-term consequences can be heart attacks or strokes.

The cause of disorders in fat metabolism can be either congenital metabolic defects or an unhealthy lifestyle, i.e. poor nutrition, lack of exercise and obesity. But even slim people are not immune to problems in fat metabolism or fatty liver. For example, drinking alcohol over a long period of time can promote fatty liver disease.

But there is good news:

Just as an unhealthy lifestyle can have a negative impact on fat metabolism, it is also possible to improve fat metabolism in a positive way. For example, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in TĂĽbingen have discovered that the microorganisms in the intestinal flora have a direct impact on fat metabolism. By choosing the right foods, you can make a major contribution to positively influencing your fat metabolism.

How is your fat metabolism?

With our home test, you can easily and conveniently carry out a fat metabolism analysis and measure the status of the fatty acid supply in your body. An accredited medical laboratory evaluates your individual results and, after around 10 days, makes the test result available to you directly online in the DoctorBox app.

Sources

https://www.lipid-liga.de/empfehlungen/

https://www.stiftung-gesundheitswissen.de/gesundes-leben/koerper-wissen/das-grosse-verteilen-wie-funktioniert-der-fettstoffwechsel

https://medlexi.de/Fettstoffwechsel

https://www.eb.tuebingen.mpg.de/de/artikel/darmbakterien-beeinflussen-als-lieferanten-fuer-wichtige-fette-den-stoffwechsel/

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