Lipases break down fats (triglycerides) into fatty acids and glycerol. The other key chemical produced in this process is glycerol, which can be used for energy or re-esterified into triglycerides in the body. Lipases also play roles in mobilizing stored fats by releasing fatty acids from triglycerides within adipose tissue, with glycerol released alongside fatty acids during hydrolysis.

If you’d like, I can also summarize how different lipases (pancreatic, hepatic, hormone-sensitive, and lipoprotein lipase) contribute to fat digestion, transport, and storage.