Lipids Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for lipids, covering definitions and key concepts from the lecture notes.

Lipids

Family of organic compounds mostly insoluble in water, yielding high energy, with a composition mainly of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Triacylglycerols

The most common of the three basic classes of lipids; the main form fat takes in both diet and the human body.

Phospholipids

A class of lipids that are a major component of all cell membranes and participate in fat transport.

Sterols

A class of lipids with a structure of interlinking rings of carbon atoms; cholesterol is the best-known sterol.

Adipose Tissue

Fatty tissue in the body consisting of masses of fat-storing cells where excess energy from food is stored.

Cholesterol

An important component of the cell membrane, required for the synthesis of sex hormones, vitamin D, and bile salts.

Cardiovascular Disease

A disease of the heart or blood vessels.

Bioavailability

The extent to which a nutrient can be absorbed and used by the body.

Phytochemicals

Nonessential plant compounds considered to have a beneficial impact on human health.

Fatty Acids

An organic compound containing a carboxylic acid group at one end and a methyl group at the other.

Saturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid that contains the maximum number of hydrogen atoms with no points of unsaturation.

Unsaturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid that contains less than the maximum number of hydrogen atoms due to one or more double bonds between carbon atoms.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid that contains two or more points of unsaturation.

Nonessential Fatty Acids

A fatty acid that can be synthesized by the body.

Essential Fatty Acids

A fatty acid that the body cannot synthesize and must be supplied through the diet (e.g., Omega-3 and Omega-6).

Eicosanoids

Compounds derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids that control several body functions.

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)

An omega-3 fatty acid that is especially important for brain growth and development in infants.

Amphiphilic

A compound that has both water-loving (hydrophilic) and fat-loving (lipophilic) properties.

Emulsifiers

Compounds that allow two immiscible liquids to combine so that no separation occurs.

Lipase

Enzyme responsible for the breakdown of triacylglycerols and phospholipids.

Bile

A substance secreted by the liver that aids in the absorption and digestion of fats.

Monoglycerides

A product of lipid digestion, consisting of a glycerol molecule with one fatty acid attached.

Micelles

An aggregate of phospholipids and other fats and fat-soluble vitamins that aid in crossing the brush border into enterocytes.

Lipoprotein

Protein that contains a lipid and serves to transport fat through blood and lymph.

Chylomicron

A lipoprotein formed when lipids are combined with carrier proteins in the cells of the intestinal lining; a vehicle for transporting fats.

VLDL

Very low-density lipoproteins are made in the liver from remnants of chylomicrons and transport triacylglycerols.

IDL

Intermediate-density lipoproteins transport triacylglycerol, cholesterol, and fat-soluble vitamins in the bloodstream.

LDL

Low-density lipoproteins are commonly known as the 'bad cholesterol'.

HDL

High-density lipoproteins are also known as 'good cholesterol'.

Oxidation

The loss of at least one electron when two or more substances interact.

Linolenic acid

An omega-3 fatty acid that is essential for human health.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)

An omega-3 fatty acid made from linolenic acid, found in fish.

Linoleic acid

An omega-6 fatty acid that is essential for human health.

Arachidonic acid (ARA)

An omega-6 fatty acid that is a precursor to the synthesis of eicosanoids.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

A family of essential fatty acids with various health benefits, including heart and brain health.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids

A family of essential fatty acids that are important for various bodily functions, but imbalanced intake can lead to health issues.

Atherosclerosis

A disease of the arteries characterized by the deposition of plaques of fatty material on their inner walls.

Fat-soluble vitamins

Vitamins that dissolve in fats and oils and are absorbed along with fats in the diet. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble.

Satiety

The feeling of fullness and satisfaction after eating.

Gastric lipase

An enzyme in the stomach that starts to break down triacylglycerols into diglycerides and fatty acids.

Enterocytes

The cells lining the small intestine that absorb nutrients.

Microvillus

Microscopic cellular membrane protrusions that increase the surface area for absorption in the small intestine.

Plaque formation

The process of deposits building up on the inner walls of arteries, leading to atherosclerosis.

Arrhythmia

An irregular heartbeat.

Ischemic stroke

A type of stroke that occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked.

Soluble fiber

A type of dietary fiber that dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance and can help lower cholesterol levels.

Total Cholesterol

A measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood, including LDL, HDL, and VLDL.

Blood Lipid Profile

A test that measures the levels of different types of fats in your blood, including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Monounsaturated Fat

A type of unsaturated fat that has one double bond in its fatty acid chain.

Polyunsaturated Fat

A type of unsaturated fat that has two or more double bonds in its fatty acid chain.

Saturated Fat

A type of fat that is solid at room temperature and is found primarily in animal products.

Hydrogenation

A chemical process in which hydrogen is added to unsaturated fats to make them more saturated.

Trans Fat

A type of unsaturated fat that is artificially produced during hydrogenation.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)

A type of polyunsaturated fatty acid that is found in meat and dairy products and is believed to have health benefits.

Lipid Peroxidation

A chain reaction in which lipids are degraded by oxidation, often initiated by free radicals.

Acyl-CoA

A molecule formed when a fatty acid is attached to coenzyme A, an important step in fatty acid metabolism.

Carnitine

A compound that transports fatty acids into the mitochondria for oxidation.

Ketogenesis

The biochemical process by which ketone bodies are produced through the breakdown of fatty acids.

Ketone Bodies

Water-soluble molecules produced by the liver from fatty acids during periods of low glucose availability.

Lipolysis

The breakdown of lipids and involves hydrolysis of triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids.

De Novo Lipogenesis

The synthesis of fatty acids from non-lipid precursors, such as carbohydrates and proteins.

Apolipoproteins

The protein components of lipoproteins, which play a role in lipoprotein assembly and metabolism.

Lecithin

A phospholipid found in bile that acts as an emulsifier.

Pancreatic Lipase

An enzyme secreted by the pancreas that digests triglycerides in the small intestine.

Hormone Sensitive Lipase (HSL)

An enzyme inside adipose cells that responds to the body's need for fuel by hydrolyzing triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol.

Adipokines

Hormones secreted by adipose tissue that play a role in energy balance and inflammation.

Leptin

A hormone released by adipose tissue that signals satiety to the brain.

Adiponectin

A hormone released by adipose tissue that improves insulin sensitivity and reduces inflammation.

Ghrelin

A hormone produced in the stomach that stimulates appetite.

Stearic Acid

A saturated fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms.

Oleic Acid

A monounsaturated fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms.

Cis Fatty Acid

An unsaturated fatty acid in which the hydrogen atoms are on the same side of the double bond.

Trans Fatty Acid

An unsaturated fatty acid in which the hydrogen atoms are on opposite sides of the double bond.

Acylglycerols

Esters formed from glycerol and fatty acids.

Sphingolipids

A class of lipids that are major components of cell membranes, especially in nerve tissue.

Glycolipids

Lipids with a carbohydrate attached, found on the surface of cell membranes.

Cardiolipin

A phospholipid found in the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Fats

Lipids that are solid at room temperature.

Oils

Lipids that are liquid at room temperature.

Isoprenoids

A class of organic compounds derived from isoprene units, including steroids and terpenes.

Squalene

A triterpene that is a precursor to cholesterol synthesis.

Essential Oils

Concentrated hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aroma compounds from plants.

Terpenes

A large and diverse class of organic compounds produced by a variety of plants, particularly conifers.

Retinoids

A class of chemical compounds that are forms of vitamin A or are chemically related to it.

Beta-Carotene

A red-orange pigment found in plants and fruits, especially carrots, that can be converted into vitamin A in the body.

Tocopherols

A class of organic chemical compounds, many of which have vitamin E activity.

Ubiquinone

A coenzyme that mediates electron transfer in the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Phosphatidylcholine

A phospholipid that is a major component of cell membranes and a source of choline.

Phosphatidylethanolamine

A phospholipid found in cell membranes.

Phosphatidylserine

A phospholipid involved in cell signaling and apoptosis.

Phosphatidylinositol

A phospholipid involved in cell signaling.

Sphingomyelin

A sphingolipid found in nerve cell membranes.

Cerebrosides

Glycolipids with a single sugar residue.

Gangliosides

Glycolipids with multiple sugar residues, including sialic acid.

Eicosanoid Precursors

Essential fatty acids that the body uses to produce eicosanoids.

Delta-6 Desaturase

An enzyme involved in the synthesis of essential fatty acids.

Elongase

An enzyme that elongates fatty acid chains.

Linoleic Acid to Arachidonic Acid

The process by which the body converts linoleic acid into arachidonic acid.

Linolenic Acid to EPA and DHA

The process by which the body converts linolenic acid into EPA and DHA.

Reverse Cholesterol Transport

The process by which HDL removes cholesterol from cells and transports it to the liver for excretion.