Which pancreatic enzyme is primarily responsible for the digestion of dietary fats?
Solution
Correct Answer: Option B
The enzyme primarily responsible for the digestion of dietary fats is lipase.
The pancreas secretes multiple enzymes that play crucial roles in the digestion of macronutrients.
Among these enzymes:
- Amylase breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars.
- Trypsin and chymotrypsin are proteases responsible for protein digestion.
- Lipase specifically hydrolyzes dietary triglycerides into free fatty acids and monoglycerides, facilitating fat absorption in the intestine.
Since fats are insoluble in water, lipase works in conjunction with bile salts to emulsify fats, increasing the surface area for enzymatic action. Without lipase, efficient fat digestion and absorption would be severely impaired.
Key point: Lipase is the pancreatic enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of triglycerides into absorbable components, making it essential for fat digestion.
Reference: Robbins Basic Pathology, 10th Edition, Chapter 16 – Disorders of the Pancreas, Page 735
The pancreas secretes multiple enzymes that play crucial roles in the digestion of macronutrients.
Among these enzymes:
- Amylase breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars.
- Trypsin and chymotrypsin are proteases responsible for protein digestion.
- Lipase specifically hydrolyzes dietary triglycerides into free fatty acids and monoglycerides, facilitating fat absorption in the intestine.
Since fats are insoluble in water, lipase works in conjunction with bile salts to emulsify fats, increasing the surface area for enzymatic action. Without lipase, efficient fat digestion and absorption would be severely impaired.
Key point: Lipase is the pancreatic enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of triglycerides into absorbable components, making it essential for fat digestion.
Reference: Robbins Basic Pathology, 10th Edition, Chapter 16 – Disorders of the Pancreas, Page 735
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