[Postprandial fatty acid metabolism].

In accordance with metabolic properties in the mucosal and liver cells, the exogenous fatty acids may be classified as short chain (C4 and C6), medium chain (C8 and C10), transitional (C12 and C14) and long chain (C16 upward) fatty acids. The postprandial fatty acid metabolism takes place in two phases. In the first, approximately 8 hour phase, the clearance of chylomicrons and most of the chylomicron remnants as well as the uptake of short and medium chain fatty acids by the liver are completed. Most of the exogenous long chain fatty acids (chylomicron fatty acids) are cleared extrahepatically. However, about 10% of the long chain fatty acids are taken up by the liver, and during the second postprandial phase, lasting about 24 hours, the liver secretes most of these exogenous fatty acids with very low density lipoproteins. The exogenous fatty acids may circulate between the liver and adipose tissue until they are finally metabolized mainly in extrahepatic tissues.