Monoglyceride, also known as monoacylglycerol, is a molecule made of one
glycerol molecule with one
fatty acid attached to it by an ester bond.
Monoglycerides are important in fat digestion. Pancreatic lipase breaks down dietary
triglycerides into monoglycerides and
free fatty acids:
The 2-monoglyceride and free fatty acids can then participate in micelle formation and be absorbed by intestinal cells.