The liver breaks down ____.

The liver breaks down ____.

• A. Carbohydrates
• B. Fats
• C. Proteins
• D. Nucleic acids

Answer: (B)

Fats are metabolized in the liver as a key part of lipid metabolism. Inside liver cells, fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation to become acetyl-CoA, which then feeds the citric acid cycle to release energy. In fasting or low carbohydrate states, the liver can also convert acetyl-CoA into ketone bodies to supply energy to other tissues. This focus on breaking down fats for energy and producing ketones is a central liver function, making fats the best match for what the question is asking. Carbohydrates are primarily handled by digestive enzymes in the gut and by processes in the liver that store or release glucose (glycogen storage and glucose production), rather than being broken down there. Proteins are chiefly digested by proteases in the stomach and small intestine, not by the liver. Nucleic acids are degraded by nucleases mainly in the digestive tract.

Fats are metabolized in the liver as a key part of lipid metabolism. Inside liver cells, fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation to become acetyl-CoA, which then feeds the citric acid cycle to release energy. In fasting or low carbohydrate states, the liver can also convert acetyl-CoA into ketone bodies to supply energy to other tissues. This focus on breaking down fats for energy and producing ketones is a central liver function, making fats the best match for what the question is asking.

Carbohydrates are primarily handled by digestive enzymes in the gut and by processes in the liver that store or release glucose (glycogen storage and glucose production), rather than being broken down there. Proteins are chiefly digested by proteases in the stomach and small intestine, not by the liver. Nucleic acids are degraded by nucleases mainly in the digestive tract.