5.5 Lymphatic Transport

Lymphatic transport is the post-absorption route for a large part of dietary fat handling. It connects small-intestinal absorption to systemic fat delivery.

This is the transport layer, not energy oxidation itself. Transport continuity is part of Fat Processing Rate.

Do not collapse transport into “fat is absorbed.” Feline FBM keeps the distinction: digestion → absorption → transport → oxidation, all backtraced to upstream food structure.

What leaves the mucosa into lymphatic routes.

Unbroken handoff from gut to utilization sites.

Rate includes transport segment, not digestion alone.

Long-term fatty acid pathway depends on transport completing.

upstream food structure

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digestion and small-intestinal absorption

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lymphatic transport

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fatty acid oxidation pathway

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long-term energy and skin-coat outputs

Transport mismatch may appear as digestive outputs or sebum-system signals before oxidation stability is reached. These are observable outputs, not root causes.