Discuss the role of fatty acid and ketone bodies as a source of energy

Ketone bodies as asource of energy:

·        Ketone bodies are needed to provide energy to the peripheral tissues during starvation.

·        Brain can use ketone bodies as fuel.

·        Liver cannot use ketone bodies as fuel

·        Erythrocyte cannot use ketone bodies due to absence of mitochondria.

Fatty acid are important source of energy because they are both reduced and anhydrous. The energy yield from a gram of fatty acid is approximately 9K.cal compared to 4K.cal/gm for carbohydrate. Since the hydrocarbon portion of fatty acids is hydrophobic, these molecules can be stored in a relatively anhydrous environment.