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Why do lipids have a higher caloric value than carbohydrates?

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This has to do with the complexity of the chemical structures associated with the macronutrients. The easy answer, which might sound a bit circular, is that lipid is more caloric-dense than carbohydrate. read more

Gram for gram, fats provide more energy than carbohydrates. The reason for this is the amount of oxidation that takes place as these compounds are converted to carbon dioxide and water. read more

Carbon atoms in fatty acids have an oxidation state of -2 to -3, whereas carbohydrates have oxidation states of +1 to -1. Because of this, there are more electrons surrounding each one. The electrons in carbon have a low affinity, so when oxygen, which has a high affinity, is nearby, the electrons migrate to it and release energy in the process. read more

The higher caloric value of lipids is derived from their chemical structure: they have the greatest number of C-C bonds available to the oxidation machinery of the mitochondrion/peroxisome that transform these into acetate/Acetyl-CoA. For example, 1 fatty acid molecule such as palmitate can be oxidized into 8 acetate molecules (theoretical max). read more

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