ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on fats and fatty acids regarding the lipid nutrition and metabolism. Lipids are main dietary macronutrients and comprise important signaling molecules in nutrient metabolism. Efficient use of dietary lipids for lean tissue gains and the formation of high-quality products depend on the knowledge of lipoprotein transport and metabolism among key organs, such as the small intestine, liver, skeletal muscle, and White Adipose Tissue (WAT). While all cell types are capable of synthesizing triacylglycerols (TAGs), the small intestine, liver, and WAT are the major sites for the occurrence of TAG synthesis in nonlactating animals. Regulation of hepatic ketogenesis involves multiple tissues: the WAT, which supplies free fatty acids to the liver; the liver, which either oxidizes fatty acids or synthesizes TAGs; and the skeletal muscle and other tissues that oxidize ketone bodies. Fatty acids are then used to form TAGs for deposition in WAT and other tissues.
