Which of the following correctly lists the processes involved in the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins in the correct order?

• A. Incorporation into micelles → Packaging into chylomicrons → Emulsification by bile salts → Absorption by enterocytes
• B. Absorption by enterocytes → Emulsification by bile salts → Packaging into chylomicrons → Incorporation into micelles
• C. Emulsification by bile salts → Incorporation into micelles → Absorption by enterocytes → Packaging into chylomicrons
• D. Packaging into chylomicrons → Emulsification by bile salts → Incorporation into micelles → Absorption by enterocytes

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the role of fat-soluble vitamins in the body. Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are absorbed along with dietary fats and require specific processes for digestion and absorption due to their hydrophobic nature.
2. Step 2: Recognize the importance of bile salts in the digestion of fats. Bile salts, produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, emulsify dietary fats into smaller droplets, increasing the surface area for enzymatic action. This is the first step in the digestion of fat-soluble vitamins.
3. Step 3: Learn about micelle formation. After emulsification, the smaller fat droplets are incorporated into micelles, which are tiny, water-soluble structures that transport fat-soluble vitamins and other lipids to the intestinal lining (enterocytes).
4. Step 4: Understand the absorption process. The micelles deliver the fat-soluble vitamins to the enterocytes, where they are absorbed into the cells lining the small intestine.
5. Step 5: Explore the packaging into chylomicrons. Inside the enterocytes, the absorbed fat-soluble vitamins are packaged into chylomicrons, which are lipoprotein particles that transport these vitamins through the lymphatic system and eventually into the bloodstream.