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How are medium-chain fatty acids absorbed differently from long-chain fatty acids?

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Synthesis of palmitate — Fat Palmitic acid is one of the most prevalent fatty acids occurring in the oils and fats of animals; it also occurs naturally in palm oil. It is generated through the addition of an acetyl group to multiple malonyl groups connected by single bonds between carbons. This structure forms a saturated acid—a major component of solid glycerides.

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) are absorbed through different pathways due to their varying solubility in water.1

Medium-Chain Fatty Acids: After being broken down from medium-chain triglycerides by lipases, MCFAs are water-soluble. They move quickly through the cells of the small intestine and pass directly into the capillary tributaries of the portal vein, which transports them to the liver.1
Long-Chain Fatty Acids: LCFAs are not water-soluble and require a more complex process. They are incorporated into micelles to reach the intestinal cell membranes. Once inside the cells, they are re-synthesized into triglycerides and packaged into vesicles called chylomicrons. These chylomicrons are then released into the lymphatic system (specifically the lacteals) rather than the bloodstream, eventually reaching the thoracic duct before entering the general circulation.12