How are fatty acids primarily metabolized in the body?

Fatty acids are primarily metabolized in the body through a process known as beta-oxidation. This metabolic pathway occurs in the mitochondria and involves the breakdown of fatty acids into acetyl-CoA units. During beta-oxidation, fatty acids are sequentially cleaved by enzymes, leading to the release of acetyl-CoA, which can then enter the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) for further energy production.

This process is critical for energy metabolism, especially during times of fasting or when carbohydrate intake is low, as the body turns to fat stores for energy. The generation of acetyl-CoA from fatty acids also allows for the production of ketone bodies, which can serve as an alternative energy source for various tissues, particularly during prolonged fasting or carbohydrate restriction.

While glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and fermentation are important metabolic processes, they are primarily associated with carbohydrates rather than fatty acids. Glycolysis breaks down glucose to produce energy, gluconeogenesis synthesizes glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, and fermentation is an anaerobic process typically utilized by certain organisms or in the absence of oxygen to convert sugars into acids, gases, or alcohols. In contrast, beta-oxidation specifically addresses the metabolism of fatty