Fig. 1

Simulation results for acetyl-CoA and lipid droplet production in obese and lean subjects using the McQuaid et al. data [35] on TAG and glucose uptake as well as non-esterified fatty-acid release as upper and lower bounds. Top-left and top-right graphs respectively represent the experimental lean and obese uptake and release rates calculated in the McQuaid et al. article used to restrict exchange boundaries. Lower-left and lower-right graphs respectively represent the predicted optimal production of acetyl-CoA and lipid droplets by lean and obese subjects during the 24 h period. Dashed lines represent the time at which subjects consumed controlled meals containing the stable fatty acid isotopes used to follow fatty acid absorption