Which statement about fat metabolism and aging is correct?

• A. Decreased fat oxidation
• B. Unchanged free fatty acids
• C. Increased fat oxidation with age
• D. Increased free fatty acid concentrations

Answer: (D)

As people age, insulin resistance in adipose tissue makes insulin less effective at suppressing lipolysis. That means more adipose tissue breaks down triglycerides into free fatty acids, which spill into the bloodstream. So circulating free fatty acid concentrations tend to rise with age.

This increase in FFAs fits observed metabolic changes in aging and helps explain why higher plasma FFAs are a common finding. At the same time, fat oxidation with aging is often reduced due to declining mitochondrial oxidative capacity, so the idea that fat oxidation increases with age isn’t typically supported.