Fatty acids represent a very important, if not the most important, substrate for myocardial
energy metabolism. The heart derives fatty acids from circulating FFA bound to albumin and
from plasma triglycerides. The rate of extraction of albumin bound FFA depends upon the
albumin: FFA molar ratio and the metabolic state of the tissue. Since the albumin
concentration in vivo is fairly constant, the albumin: fatty acid ratio is determined by the
concentration of fatty acids in the serum. The fatty acid concentration is in turn regulated by …