Final answer:
Triglyceride-rich meals slow down gastric emptying as the digestion of fats is a slow process. Enzymes called pancreatic lipases break down triglycerides into fatty acids and diglycerides. Hormonal and neural events also play a role in regulating the rate of gastric emptying.
Step-by-step explanation:
Triglyceride-rich meals can influence gastric emptying by slowing down the process. When triglycerides are present in the stomach, they need to be broken down into fatty acids and diglycerides before they can be absorbed in the small intestine.
Enzymes called pancreatic lipases are responsible for this breakdown. However, the digestion of fats is a slow process, which can cause the food to stay in the stomach for a longer period of time. This is in contrast to carbohydrates, which empty from the stomach faster. The rate of gastric emptying is also regulated by hormonal and neural events that are triggered when food enters the small intestine.