Lipids Flashcards
What is a lipid?
- Soluble in non-polar solvents
- Linked to or can be linked to fatty acids
- Relatively non-toxic
Why are lipids important?
- Main storage for of energy
- Component of cell membranes
- Provide insulation
- Help control body temperature
- Provide protection to internal organs
- Form basis of many hormones
- Aids intestinal absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Is quality or quantity more important?
The quality is important in terms of chronic disease risk
Why are lipids important in food?
- Enhance flavour and palatability of food
- Provide essential fatty acids
What are the types of lipids?
- Triacylglycerol
- Phospholipids
- Sphingolipids
- Sterols
- Fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E,K)
- Others
What are triglycerides?
- Most common type of lipid in our body and in food
- Glycerol + 3 fatty acids = triglyceride
What are the functions of triglycerides?
- Energy Store (37kJ per gram)
- Storage form of fatty acid
- Structural component of lipoproteins
- > 90% of dietary lipid
What are phospholipids?
- Major lipid class found in cell membranes
- Glycerol + 2 fatty acids + phosphate = phospholipid
What are the functions of phospholipids?
- Energy store
- Source of fatty acids
- Structural components: membranes, plasma lipoproteins
- Information molecules (eicosanoids)
- 5-10% of dietary lipid
Who consumes 0 cholesterol?
Vegans - because they only in animals. But the body makes its own cholesterol in the liver so we don’t need to consume it
What are the functions of cholesterol?
- Structural component of membranes
- Steroid backbone
- Vitamin D
- Bile acids (needed for fat digestion)
What are fatty acids?
- Major energy source
- Structural in phospholipid bilayer
- Membrane fluidity
- Information molecules (eicosanoids)
What are eicosanoids?
Substances that are important for inflammation, clotting and anti-clotting. Made in the essential fatty acids
What are the different classifications of fatty acids?
- Short chain fatty acid (C2-C6)
- Medium chain fatty acid (C8-C12)
- Long chain fatty acid (>C14)
- Very long chain fatty acid (>C22)
- Most fatty acids in diet (C10-C22)
What does saturation mean?
How saturated the carbons are with hydrogen
What does C18:0 mean?
- That there is 18 carbons and 0 double bonds
- Saturated fatty acid
What are the characteristics of saturated fatty acids?
- High melting points (solid at room temp)
- Fatty acid synthesis in body
What does C18:1n9 mean?
- Oleic acid
- 18 carbons
- 1 double bond after the 9th carbon
- Monounsaturated fatty acids
What are the characteristics of monounsaturated fatty acids?
- One cis or trans double bond
- Intermediate melting points
- Fatty acid synthesis in body (not essential)
What does C18:2w-6 mean?
- Linoleic acid (essential)
- 18 carbons
- 2 double bonds, the first after the 6th carbon and a methylene group (CH2) separates the two bonds
What does C18:3w-3 mean?
- Alpha-linolenic acid (essential)
- 18 carbons
- 3 double bonds, the first after the 3rd carbon and a methylene group separating them
What are characteristics of polyunsaturated fatty acids?
- Two or more cis/trans double bonds
- Low melting points
- Body cannot synthesise n-6 and n-3 PUFA which means they are essential and can’t be made in the body
What are essential fatty acids?
Humans aren’t able to produce a double bond before the 9th carbon from the methyl or omega end. Therefore, we must obtain the fatty acids that have double bonds before the 9th carbon from our diet
What are the essential fatty acids humans need?
- Omega 3 fatty acids (a-linolenic acid)
- Omega 6 fatty acids (linoleic acid)