Which trio of enzymes are involved in fat digestion in the duodenum?

• A. Amylase, lipase, protease
• B. Bile acids and digestive enzymes
• C. Pancreatic lipase, cholesterol ester hydrolase and phospholipase
• D. Pancreatic lipase and secretin

Answer: (C)

Fat digestion in the small intestine relies on enzymes that target the main lipid classes present in dietary fats. Pancreatic lipase is the primary enzyme for triglycerides, breaking them down into monoglycerides and free fatty acids, which are the forms absorbed after aided by bile salts. Cholesterol ester hydrolase (cholesterol esterase) hydrolyzes cholesterol esters into cholesterol and fatty acids, enabling cholesterol absorption. Phospholipase A2 cleaves phospholipids into lysophospholipids and fatty acids, aiding digestion of phospholipids. Bile acids help by emulsifying fats, but they are not enzymes. The other options either include non-fat-digesting enzymes (amylase, protease), non-enzymatic components (bile acids), or hormones (secretin), so they don’t fit as the fat-digesting trio.