Category: Lipidology

By definition, fatty acids with a carbon chain of six or more are typically classified as non-volatile, meaning they do not readily evaporate at normal temperatures. This major class of lipids includes the saturated fats in meat and the essential fatty acids in fish oil, encompassing a vast array of compounds with crucial biological roles.

A significant portion of your cell membranes is composed of complex lipids. But what is another name for complex lipids, and why are they so crucial for cellular function? These vital molecules, also called compound lipids, form the structural basis of many biological membranes.

Biological lipids are a chemically diverse group of organic compounds which are insoluble in water, but soluble in non-polar organic solvents. This fundamental hydrophobic nature underlies their varied roles in energy storage, cellular structure, and signaling throughout the body.

While the dangers of high cholesterol are well-publicized, significantly low lipid levels can also be a health concern. Being hypolipidemic means having lower-than-normal amounts of lipids, or fats, circulating in the bloodstream, a condition that can have various underlying causes and potential health consequences.

In mammalian cells, fatty acids with 16 and 18 carbons are among the most abundant species, which confirms that long chain fatty acids are most common in many biological systems. These lengthy molecules are crucial for providing energy, forming cellular membranes, and serving as signaling agents in the body.