The term "lipids" refers to a large group of organic compounds that are characterized by their insolubility to non-polar organic solvents such as ether, acetone and benzene. They are also not soluble in water. They have various uses in the human body that range from energy production to controlling hormones.
Facts
Lipids are substances that are found in both plant and animal cells. They contain the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They are important in maintaining the structures of cells and providing a source of fuel to the body. Lipids come in the form of fatty acids, waxes, steroids and neutral fats. They can also be in compound form, which occurs when the lipids combine with another chemical compound. Under the latter category are lipolipids, glycolipids, and phospholipids.
Energy
Lipids are used by the body to store energy. This is accomplished through the use of triglycerides, a kind of unsaturated fat. Triglyceride bonds are able to carry 9 kilocalories of energy as opposed to the 4 kilocalories that carbohydrates can. The reason for this is that lipids are hydrophobic. This means that they do not hold water and can group together more efficiently compared to carbohydrates. The disadvantage of this is that lipids can cause obesity. The body tends to use fat instead of carbohydrates when it comes to the storage of energy.
Cells
Cell membranes are important because they protect the cell and control the materials that flow in and out of it. Lipids are needed in order to create the membranes in the cells. Examples of this function are their uses in cellular plasma and organelle membranes. Lipids have the ability to allow two layers of the membrane to develop. As a result, the cell is able to control what kinds of substances form across the walls of the cell.
Vitamins
Without lipids, vitamins will be useless regardless of their amount. This is because lipids play a vital role in the absorption of vitamins. There are two types of vitamins: those that are dissolved in water and those that are dissolved in fat. Water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C, are easily eliminated from the body. Fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, E, D, and K are usually retained longer. These substances are usually found in fatty tissues and the liver. The absorption of vitamins is important because the body cannot produce these substances on its own.
Transmission
Lipids are necessary for information in the cells to be transmitted. This function is carried out through lipid hormones such as steroids. Known as signal transduction, lipids facilitate the process in which a cell changes a stimulus into another. For example, lipid hormones are needed in the sexual development of individuals, particularly in men, because they signal the production of testosterone.
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