ABSTRACT
Fat, by virtue of its very high energy density, is an important component of human nutrition and fat digestion in the healthy person is an extremely efficient process. Even on the high fat diets consumed in many western countries only 1-4% of dietary fat is lost in faeces per day. Fats are important nutrients not only because of their high energy density but also because, as hydrophobic molecules, they are essential components of cell membranes.
