The long chain free fatty acids have the ability to prevent gastric lipase from hydrolyzing more triglycerides.

There is typically an increase in production of LIPF when the pancreas is unable to operate at its optimal potential.

The free fatty acid can readily cross the epithelial membrane lining the gastrointestinal tract, but the diacylglycerol cannot be transported across.

The structure of gastric lipase was determined using X-ray diffraction with a resolution of 3.00 Å, and is composed of 41% helices and 14% beta sheets.

It possesses a classical catalytic triad (Ser-153, His-353, Asp-324) and an oxyanion hole (backbone NH groups of Gln-154 and Leu-67) analogous to serine proteases.