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Blood fatty acids are in different forms in different stages in the circulation. They are taken in through the intestine in chylomicrons, but also exist in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) after processing in the liver. In addition, when released from adipocytes, it fatty acids exist in the blood as free fatty acids

Intestine intake

Short- and medium chain fatty acids are absorbed directly into the blood via intestine capillaries and travel through the portal vein. Long-chain fatty acids, on the other hand, are too large to be directly released into the tiny intestine capillaries. Instead they are coated with cholesterol and protein (protein coat of lipoproteins) into a compound called a chylomicron. The chylomicron enters a lymphatic capillary and enters into the bloodstream first at the left subclavian vein.

In any case, the concentration of blood fatty acids increase temporarily after a meal.

Cell uptake

After a meal, when the blood concentration of fatty acids rises, there is an increase uptake of fatty acids in different cells of the body, mainly liver cells, adipocytes and muscle cells. This uptake is stimulated by insulin from the pancreas. As a result, the blood concentration of fatty acid stabilizes again after a meal.

Cell secretion

After a meal, some of the fatty acids taken up by the liver is converted into very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and again secreted into the blood.

In addition, when long time has passed since the last meal, the concentration of fatty acids in the blood decreases, which triggers adipocytes to release stored fatty acids into the blood as free fatty acids, in order to complement e.g. muscle cells with energy.

In any case, also the fatty acids secreted from cells are anew taken up by other cells in the body, until entering fatty acid metabolism.