When absorbed, lipids offer the body with crucial structure blocks and aid in the absorption of vital vitamins.In a brand-new research study released in the journal Nature, a group of scientists led by Professor Manolis Pasparakis and their collaborators Professor Aleksandra Trifunovic and Professor Christian Frezza at the Excellence Cluster CECAD of the University of Cologne, and Professor Jörg Heeren at the University of Hamburg, report on a new system that regulates the processing and transportation of dietary lipids by the intestine.Mitochondrial Function in EnterocytesThe researchers studied the function of mitochondria– organelles acting as powerhouses of the cell– in enterocytes, cells that line the intestine and specialize in the absorption and transportation of nutrients from digested food. They discovered that disruption of mitochondrial function in the intestines of mice caused abnormal accumulation of dietary fat in enterocytes and impaired shipment of lipids to the peripheral organs.A key finding of the study was that, when mitochondria did not function appropriately, enterocytes showed impaired product packaging and transport of lipids in the form of chylomicrons. Chylomicrons are vital carriers of dietary fats, and their appropriate formation and transport are vital for the absorption of nutrients.Implications of the Study” This discovery marks a substantial leap forward in understanding the vital function of mitochondria in dietary lipid transport and metabolism,” stated Dr Chrysanthi Moschandrea, the lead author of the research study.
