Optometry Admission Test (OAT) Practice

What is the primary function of beta oxidation in fatty acids?

1. A process where fatty acids energize glucose

2. A catabolic process that breaks down fatty acids into cytosol

3. A method for storing fatty acids in the body

4. A way to convert fatty acids into proteins

The correct answer is: A catabolic process that breaks down fatty acids into cytosol

Beta oxidation primarily serves as a catabolic process that breaks down fatty acids into acetyl-CoA units. This process occurs in the mitochondria and involves the sequential removal of two-carbon units from the fatty acid chain. Each cycle of beta oxidation produces acetyl-CoA, which can then enter the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) for energy production, alongside generating reducing equivalents in the form of NADH and FADH2. In terms of energy metabolism, beta oxidation is crucial because it allows the body to utilize fatty acids as a significant energy source, especially during periods of fasting or extended physical activity when glucose levels are low. The breakdown of fatty acids through beta oxidation directly contrasts with methods of energy storage and conversion, as the process focuses solely on the degradation of fat rather than its storage or conversion into other macromolecules.