Which lipoprotein is formed in the intestine and transports dietary fat?

• A. Chylomicrons
• B. High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
• C. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
• D. Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL)

Answer: (A)

Dietary fat needs a carrier formed in the intestine to move from the gut to tissues: chylomicrons. In the intestinal lining, absorbed fats are reassembled into triglycerides and packaged with apolipoproteins into these particles. They’re released first into the lymphatic system and then into the bloodstream, where lipoprotein lipase at capillaries cleaves the triglycerides, delivering fatty acids to adipose tissue and muscle. After unloading, chylomicron remnants are taken up by the liver. The other lipoproteins come from the liver and serve different roles: HDL participates in reverse cholesterol transport, while LDL and VLDL carry cholesterol or endogenous triglycerides rather than dietary fats.