When it comes to ATP production, lipids can be used when the natural source of energy, carbohydrates, begins to deplete or run low.
This is when lipids can directly influence ATP production:
- They replace carbohydrate energy by storing extra fats in adipose tissue.
- Fat are then digested into into glycerol & fatty acids, which enters into glyercolysis - and then into the Krebs cycle.
- Because the fatty acids mentioned above contain higher amounts of carbon and hydrogen. These are broken down ore slowly, and the degradation process yields higher levels of ATP.