Mod 2.7 - Fundamentals of fat biochem and metabolism Flashcards
What are triglycerides?
1 glycerol attached to 3 fatty acids
What are phospholipids?
- makes up cell membranes
- 2 fatty acids, glycerol head and a phosphate group (hydrophilic = mixes with water)
What are two types of essential fats?
- Omega-3&6
What are the 3 types of fatty acids?
Saturated = fatty acid with no double bond
Monosaturated = single double bond between carbons in fatty acid chain
Polyunsaturated = two double bonds between carbons in fatty acid chain - omega 3&6
Info on Lauric acid
- Sat fat
- medium chain
- big in coconut oil
- used in cosmetics
Info on Palmitic acid
- Sat fat
- associated with negative changes in blood lipids = “the bad guy”
Info on Myristic acid
- Sat fat
- Poster boy of dairy fat
Info on Oleic acid
- monounsaturated fat
- Omega 9
- Associated with improvements in blood lipid profile
- poster boy of olive oil
Info on trans fatty acids
- primarily man made
- partially hydrogenated vegetable oil
- commonly found in margarine, fried food, pastries, highly processed snack foods
- consistently shows in research to worsen lipid profiles etc
What are some functions of fat?
- involved in cell signaling
- important structural components
- electron carries
- hydrophobic anchors
- intracellular messengers
- energy!
- immune function
- helps up absorb certain vitamins (emulsifying agents, fat-soluble vitamins)
- helps us produce recovery formones
What are some functions of cholesterol?
- Component of cell membranes
- precursor to fat-soluble vitamins
- precursor to steroid hormones
Rough healthy range of fat per day per kg bw?
0.5 - 1.2g per kg bw
