Triglycerides are excellent
long-term energy storage molecules
because they will not mix with water and break down. We can also eat them (in delicious fried foods) and break them down to get energy. They are made of a glycerol backbone attached to three fatty acid chains.
What are the functions of triglycerides?
- Triglycerides store unused calories and provide your body with energy.
- Cholesterol is used to build cells and certain hormones.
What is the structure of triglycerides?
Triglycerides are
tri-esters consisting of a glycerol bound to three fatty acid molecules
. Alcohols have a hydroxyl (HO–) group. Organic acids have a carboxyl (–COOH) group. Alcohols and organic acids join to form esters.
The structure of triglycerides is related to their functions. For example, the long hydrocarbon tail of the fatty acid part of “fats
”
is an important source of energy. … Fats and oils are insoluble in water, and this hydrophobic nature of lipids allows them to “bundle” together forming fat droplets.
What is the structure and location of triglycerides?
Triglycerides consist
of a glycerol “backbone” along with three fatty acids bonded to the backbone in an ester linkage
. Glycerol is a three-carbon molecule, C(H
2
)OH-C(H)OH-C(H
2
)OH. When one of its hydroxyl groups (-OH) loses a hydrogen, a fatty acid can bind to the oxygen in its place, creating a C-O-C (ester) bond.
What are the two main components of triglycerides?
A triglyceride is composed of
glycerol and three fatty acids
. When all of the fatty acids in a triglyceride are identical, it is termed a “simple” triglyceride.
What are the 3 types of triglycerides?
The three types of fatty acids that compose triglycerides are
saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids
. From these three types of fatty acids come the three types of triglycerides, or fats; saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated triglycerides.
How do you lower triglycerides quickly?
- Aim for a healthy-for-you weight. …
- Limit your sugar intake. …
- Follow a lower carb diet. …
- Eat more fiber. …
- Exercise regularly. …
- Avoid trans fats. …
- Eat fatty fish twice weekly. …
- Increase your intake of unsaturated fats.
What is the best treatment for high triglycerides?
| Therapy Triglyceride reduction (%) HDL-C increase (%) | Statins 20 to 40 5 to 15 | Atorvastatin (Lipitor) , 10 to 80 mg daily | Fluvastatin (Lescol), 20 to 80 mg daily at bedtime | Lovastatin (Mevacor), 10 to 80 mg daily at bedtime |
|---|
Can coffee increase triglycerides?
Drinking coffee—especially unfiltered coffee—significantly contributes to increased levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides, researchers have reported. The more coffee consumed, the higher the concentrations of LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol, they found.
What are examples of triglycerides?
What are triglycerides? Triglycerides are fats from the food we eat that are carried in the blood. Most of the fats we eat, including
butter, margarines, and oils
, are in triglyceride form. Excess calories, alcohol or sugar in the body turn into triglycerides and are stored in fat cells throughout the body.
Can vitamin D increase triglycerides?
Vitamin D
below 30 ng/mL
was associated with higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin levels. It was also associated with a higher score on the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, in which insulin resistance is defined as a score above 2.7.
What is the function of triglycerides for animals?
Triglycerides in animals and probably in plant seeds function
as depots of energy
. In mammals they are stored in adipose tissue until needed, at which time they are broken down to a molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acid.
How do you build triglyceride?
A triglyceride is formed by
joining three molecules to the glycerol molecule by dehydration synthesis to form ester linkages
. You need to drag, possibly rotate, and drop the correct molecules to the correct positions on the glycerol molecule.
What are some properties of triglycerides?
Physical properties
They are
non-polar, hydrophobic, insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents
. Specific gravity is less than water. Therefore fats and oil float on water.
What are the building blocks of triglycerides?
The two building blocks that compose triglycerides are
fatty acids and glycerol
.
