FATS 201 



rises to an abnormally high figure (l-2-l'3). Assuming 

 that there is not an abnormal retention of CO2 in the body, 

 this can only be explained by supposing that carbohydrates 

 are being converted into fat, and that in the transformation 

 a certain amount of oxygen becomes available for oxidation 

 (p. 152). 



The formation of glycerine from carbohydrate must be 

 a very simple matter, as will be seen by a comparison of 

 the formula? : — 



But as regards the fatty acids the question is more 

 difficult. It is probable that the carbohydrate is first 

 broken down into simpler compounds, such as acetaldehyde, 

 CH3CHO, and pyruvic acid, CH3COCOOH, and that the 

 fatty acids are built up from these. 



Formation of Fat from Protein 



The evidence for the formation of fat from protein based 

 upon a study of fatty infiltration and degeneration, is now 

 known to be fallacious. We have already seen that fatty 

 infiltration is due to mobihsation of fat from the depots. 

 In fatty degeneration, such as occurs in the heart after 

 diphtheria or in peripheral nerves after separation from 

 the nerve-cell, there is a deposit of fat from the tissue 

 itself. This, however, is not derived from protein, but is 

 an unmasking of the fat from lecithin. 



