Introduction to Chemistry of Lipids
Lipids comprises heterogeneous group of compounds which are insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar organic solvents such us benzene, chloroform, and ether, present in all living organisms.
The group includes fats, oils, waxes and related compounds.
General Functions of Lipids
i. They are efficient energy sources.
ii. Serve as thermal insulators.
iii. They are structural components of the cell membrane.
iv. Serve as precursors for hormones (steroid hormones).
v. They also dissolve the vitamins, which are fat-soluble and assist their digestion.
2. Classification base on composition
2.5. Functions of Fatty acid
1. The fluidity of membrane depends on length and degree of unsaturated fatty acids. Membrane phospholipid (PL) contains essential fatty acids.
In case of deficiency of essential fatty acid (EFA), other fatty acids replace them in the membrane; as a result, membrane gets modified structurally and functionally.
2. They are required for the synthesis of Phospholipid, cholesterol ester and lipoproteins
3. Poly unsaturated fatty acids are released from membranes, diverted for the synthesis of prostaglandins, leukotriens and thromboxanes.
4. They act as fat mobilizing agents in liver and protect liver from accumulating fats (fatty liver).