SPORTS
NUTRITION

The four products of adipocyte lipolysis are three fatty acids and a glycerol molecule.
The glycerol molecule liberated during lipolysis is released to the blood. Therefore,
the measurement of glycerol in the blood can be used as an index of the degree of
lipolysis. Once in the blood, the plasma glycerol is taken up primarily by the liver
and converted to glycerol 3-phosphate via glycerol kinase. Glycerol 3-phophate is
then converted to dihydroxyacetone phosphate, which can enter either glycolysis or

be converted to glucose via gluconeogenesis. The fatty acids produced during lipoly-
sis can be released into circulation or remain in the adipose tissue and be used to

form a new triacylglycerol, a process called re-esterification. At rest, about 70% of
all fatty acids released during lipolysis are re-esterified (Jeukendrup and Gleeson
2010; Wolfe et al. 1990). During exercise, re-esterification is suppressed and the fatty
acids that are released into circulation are taken up by skeletal muscle.