Unit 5: Lipids; Fats, Oils, Phospholipids, And Sterols Flashcards
Define Lipids
Organic compounds composed of primarily carbon, hydrogen and small amounts of oxygen.
Insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents
Triglycerides include:
Fats that are usually solid at room temperature
Oils that are usually liquid at room temperature
Make up 95% of dietary lipids
Make up 99% of stored fat in the body
5% of dietary lipids are made up of:
Phospholipids, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins, waxes and other minor complex lipid compounds
Define Fatty Acid
An organic compound composed of a carbon chain with hydrogens attached and an acid group (COOH) at one end and a methyl group (CH3) at the other end. The building blocks of lipids
How many carbons does a short-chain fatty acid have?
Less than 6 carbons
How many carbons does a medium-chain fatty acid have?
6-10 carbons
How many carbons does a long-chain fatty acid have?
12-4 carbons
How many double bonds does a Saturated Fatty acid (SFA) have?
No double bonds
Most possible number of hydrogens
Ex. Stearic Acid
How many double bonds does a Monounsaturated Fatty Acid (MUFA) have?
1 double bond
Lacks 2 hydrogens
Ex. Leicester Acid
Monounsaturated oil or fat is composed of triglycerides in which most of the fatty acids are monounsaturated
How many double bonds does a Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) have?
2 or more double bonds
Lacks 4 or more hydrogens
Ex. Linoleic acid
Polyunsaturated fat or oil is composed of triglycerides in which most of the fatty acids are polyunsaturated
Define Point of Unsaturation
The double bond of a fatty acid, where hydrogen atoms can be easily added to the structure
Define Omega-3 Fatty Acid
Polyunsaturated fatty acid with its first double bond 2 carbons from the methyl end
Define Omega-6 Fatty Acid
Fatty Acid with its first double bond 6 carbons from the methyl end
Monounsaturated fatty acids tend to belong to what group. Because their first (an only) double bond is 9 carbons from the methyl end.
Omega-9 group
Chemists identify polyunsaturated fatty acids by:
The position of the double bond nearest the methyl group
Degree of unsaturation determines what?
Hardness of a fat or oil
The shorter and more unsaturated the more liquid
Palmitic Acid
Number of Carbon Atoms: 16
Number of Double Bonds: 0
State at room temperature: Solid
Fact: Most abundant saturated fatty acid in fats. Animal fats contain large quantities
Stearic Acid
Number of Carbon Atoms: 18
Number of Double Bonds: 0
State at room temperature: Solid
Fact: Animal fats contain large amounts
Oleic Acid
Number of Carbon Atoms: 18
Number of Double Bonds: 1
State at room temperature: Liquid
Fact: Large amounts found in oils from plants and seeds
Linoleic Acid
Number of Carbon Atoms: 18
Number of Double Bonds: 2
State at room temperature: Liquid
Fact: Large amounts found in plant and seed oils. Most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid in oils
Linolenic Acid
Number of Carbon Atoms: 18
Number of Double Bonds: 3
State at room temperature: Liquid
Arachidonic Acid
Number of Carbon Atoms: 20
Number of Double Bonds: 4
State at room temperature: Liquid
Dietary lipids that contain saturated short and medium chain fatty acids are:
Butterfat and coconut oil
Exceptions to the degree of saturation rule are:
Coconut and palm (tropical) oils but highly saturated (92% and 51% respectively)
Define Triglyceride
Composed of a glycerol molecule, to which 3 fatty acids are attached. Each acid has a carboxylic acid at one end and a methyl at the other.
Define Monoglyceride
One fatty acid attached to a glycerol molecule
Product of food industry
Used as an emulsifier
Margarines, lard and shortening
Can also be found in the human GI tract after a fatty meal (product of fat digestion)
Define Diglyceride
2 fatty acids attached to glycerol
Used as an emulsifier
Food product industry
Define Emulsifier
Food product Industry
Give foods such as ice cream, baked goods, texture to keep fats evenly dispersed.
Define Mixed Triglyceride
3 different fatty acids attached to each glycerol
Most dietary lipids are composed of them
Can vary in length (even-numbered, from 4-30 carbon)
Can vary in degree of saturation
What is the nutritional significance of Triglycerides?
Nutritional significance determined by composition of the fatty acids.
Dominate Dietary Fats
Visible in foods such as: butter, margarine, lard, vegetable oil, salad dressing, fatty meat, chicken skin
Invisible fats include:
Cream, milk, cheese, egg yolks, meat, fish, poultry, nuts, seeds, olives, avocados, bakery items, fried foods, some whole-grains
Define Phospholipid
Lipid that contains phosphorus
Found in almost all cells as a major constituent of cell membranes
Ability to attract water-soluble and fat-soluble substances (Facilitate passage through cell membranes)
Phospholipids in the blood and body fluids also act as emulsifiers (keeping fats in solution)
Explain Lecithin
Phospholipid
Has water-soluble base choline, phosphate molecule and 2 water-insoluble fatty acids attached to glycerol molecule.
Occurs naturally in liver, egg yolks, and soybeans (same as other phospholipids)
As a food additive, lecithin serves as an emulsifier in foods like: cheese, margarine, chocolate bars
Phospholipids make up a vary small amount of dietary lipids. What happens to them when ingested?
Hydrolyze by intestinal enzymes and can be used to produce energy.
Not an essential nutrient as the body can synthesize them as needed