Lipids Flashcards
All lipids are-
Insoluble in water, are oily to touch, and together with carbs + proteins constitute the principal structural material of the body
Triglycerides, oils, and cholesterol are all grouped together because-
Of their structural and physical similarities
Triglycerides are molecules made of-
Glycerol and fatty acids
Most common lipid?
Triglycerides
Name the 4 main things that triglycerides do
Provide energy
Primary form of energy storage in the body
Insulate and protect
Aid in the absorption and transport of fat-soluble vitamins
A triglyceride containing mixed fatty acids is known as-
a mixed triglyceride
What are the two types of fatty acids?
Saturated fatty acid
Unsaturated fatty acid
Saturated means-
Filled to capacity
Primary components of fatty acid?
Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Oils are-
Liquid fats
What are the 2 essential fatty acids?
Linoleic acid (omega-6)
Alpha-linolenic (omega-3)
Why are omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids so essential?
Because the body can’t synthesize them
What are some good sources of omega-6?
Whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, fish, olive oil, and garlic
What are some good sources of omega-3?
Flax seed, egg yolk, and chia seeds
What are the three naming systems for fatty acids?
Delta nomenclature
Omega nomenclature
Common names
For Delta Nomenclature, one needs to know 3 things:
Number of carbons in fatty acid
Number of double bonds
number of carbons from the carboxylic acid (alpha) end to the first carbon in the double bonds
What’s the only difference between the omega nomenclature and the delta nomenclature?
Carbons are counted from the methyl (omega) end instead of the carboxylic acid end, and the omega symbol is used instead of the delta symbol
For Omega Nomenclature one needs to know 3 things:
Number of carbons in the fatty acid
Number of double neurons
Number of carbons from the methyl end (omega end) to the first carbon in the double bond closest to the methyl end
What’s cholesterol?
A type of lipid found in the blood and in the diet
Cholesterol is important because-
It is an essential component of brain and nerve tissue.
It’s also needed to form bile, hormones, and vitamin D
Many foods contain cholesterol, but it is mainly found in-
Foods of animal origin
Can the body produce cholesterol?
The body produces all of the cholesterol that it needs
LDL =
Bad cholesterol
HDL =
Good cholesterol
How is HDL healthy?
It helps the body to process excess triglycerides thus managing the amount of excess fat in the overall system
What’s a lipid panel?
A series of tests that measure the amount of cholesterol in the blood
Chemists use-
Delta Nomenclature
Nutritionists use-
Omega Nomenclature
Target total cholesterol number (in an adult)?
Total Cholesterol < 200 mg/dl
Total HDL target number (in an adult)?
Total HDL > 35
Total LDL target number (in an adult)?
Total LDL < 100
Total triglycerides target number (in an adult)?
Total Triglycerides < 150
