14a. Lipids & Essential Fatty Acids Flashcards
What has been the traditional thinking on saturated fat?
Diet high in saturated fat can increase serum cholesterol
Leading to heart disease
(Ancel Keys, 1950s)
What has traditionally been the dietary recommendations around saturated fat?
Low fat diet
High carbs
Swap animal fats for seed oils
What are the functions of white adipose tissue (WAT)?
Protect organs Insulation Energy storage Hormone secretion Enzymes and cytokines Growth factors
Examples of different types of lipids
Individual fatty acids Triglycerides Phospholipids Cholesterol Fat soluble vitamins
Where are phospholipids found?
In every cell membrane
Where are sphingolipids found?
In nerve cell membranes
e.g. myelin
What is the role of glycolipids?
Cell identity
What are cerebrosides?
Glycosphingolipids found in the brain
Examples of functions of lipids
Insulation Energy production Energy storage Cell membrane structure Steroid hormones Absorption of fat soluble vitamins
How do lipids support energy production?
1g of fat = 9kcals
How do lipids support energy storage?
More efficient form of energy storage
so body stores any excess energy as fat
How do lipids support cell membrane structure?
Phospholipids and cholesterol stabilise cell membranes
Allows for fluidity - crucial
How do lipids support insulation?
Layer of insulation in subcutaneous tissue
Protection around organs
How do lipids support steroid hormones?
Progestogens, androgens, oestrogens, glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids are derived from cholesterol
How do lipids support growth and development?
Brain is rich in arachidonic acid and DHA
How are fatty acids chemically structured?
Hydrocarbon chains with an acid (carboxylic) group at one end and a methyl group (omega) group at the other
How many carbons do short chain fatty acids have?
Up to 5
How many carbons do medium chain fatty acids have?
6-12
How many carbons do long chain fatty acids have?
14-22
How many carbons do very long chain fatty acids have?
22+
Where do SCFA and MCFA travel to?
Directly to the liver
What can SCFAs and MCFAs be used for?
Energy
Ketones
Which fatty acid chain can be used as a source of energy before exercise?
MCFA
as MCTs
What can LCFAs and VLCFAs be used for?
Build cell membranes
When are SCFAs produced?
When dietary fibre is fermented in the colon
Examples of common SCFAs
Acetate
Butyrate
Propionate
What is butyrate important for?
Colon health - primary energy source for colonocytes
Supports intestinal tight junctions
Anti-inflammatory properties
What is the naming structure of fatty acids?
Number of carbon atoms
Number of double bonds
Number of carbons from the omega end to first carbon at a double bond
How do unsaturated fats become saturated?
By the addition of a hydrogen
as in hydrogenation when oils are made into solid spreads
What does hydrogenation do?
Turns a natural fatty acid into an unnatural form
damaging to health
What are saturated fatty acids?
Contain no carbon double bonds
All the carbons are completely saturated with hydrogen bonds
Solid at room temperature
What are unsaturated fatty acids?
Contain one or more double bonds between carbons
Liquid at room temperature
What are monounsaturated fatty acids?
Have one double bond in the chain
What are polyunsaturated fatty acids?
Have several double bonds in the chain
What impact does the number of double bonds have on the fatty acid?
The more double bonds there are, the less stable it is
Increases susceptibility to oxidation
How are trans fats produced?
High temperatures
Hydrogenation
What products are trans fats found in?
Margarine
Processed foods
Refined veg oils
Why are trans fats bad for cell membranes?
Stiffens them
Makes them prone to oxidation
Alters their protective action/permeability
What diseases are trans fats linked to?
CV disease
Insulin resistance
Cancer
Are the majority of natural fats cis or trans?
Cis
What is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)?
A natural trans fat found in grass-fed meat and dairy products
What are the benefits of CLA?
Helps increase lean muscle mass
Helps decrease body fat
Why are trans fats unsaturated but behave like saturated fats?
Because they don’t kink
What type of fat is the major form of dietary fat?
Triglycerides
Which type of fat is the fat that is stored in the body and circulated in the blood when released for energy?
Triglycerides
How are triglycerides chemically constructed?
Lipid molecules
1 unit of glycerol and 3 x fatty acids
How can the three fatty acids differ?
In length (number of carbon atoms) Degree of saturation (number of hydrogen molecules attached)
Which pathology has high levels of triglycerides in the blood been linked to?
Atherosclerosis
When does the body synthesise triglycerides?
Whenever calorific intake exceeds energy requirements
What process is utilised to convert excess dietary energy to triglycerides?
Lipogenesis