What occurs to fatty acid levels during the fed state?

During the fed state, the body is in an anabolic environment where nutrients, particularly glucose and amino acids, are abundant. In this state, insulin is secreted, leading to a series of metabolic changes that promote the storage and synthesis of macromolecules.

Fatty acid synthesis occurs primarily in the liver and adipose tissue, driven by elevated levels of acetyl-CoA and the availability of carbohydrates. Specifically, glucose is converted to pyruvate through glycolysis, and this pyruvate is then converted to acetyl-CoA in the mitochondria. The excess acetyl-CoA then moves into the cytosol, where it is converted to fatty acids through a series of enzymatic steps. This newly synthesized fatty acid can then be stored as triglycerides in adipocytes or released into the bloodstream as part of lipoproteins.

In contrast, during fasting or energy deficits, the focus shifts from synthesis to degradation and oxidation of fatty acids to meet energy demands, which would not occur during the fed state when energy substrates are plentiful. Thus, the physiological response in the fed state distinctly favors fatty acid synthesis to utilize and store the excess energy provided by food intake.