Exogenous pathway of lipid metabolism

In the intestinal cell, absorbed free fatty acids combine with glycerol to form triglycerides, and, to a lesser degree, absorbed cholesterol is esterified to form cholesteryl esters. These lipids are assembled as chylomicrons; the main apolipoprotein (apo) is B-48, but apo C-II and E are acquired as the chylomicrons enter the circulation. Apo C-II is a cofactor for lipoprotein lipase which makes the chylomicrons progressively smaller in part by hydrolyzing the core triglycerides and releasing free fatty acids. The chylomicron remnants that are cleared from the circulation by hepatic chylomicron remnant receptors for which apo E is a high-affinity ligand.