Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Structure of Lipids

Structure of Lipids

Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...

Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements

Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements

Lipids are an essential component of a balanced human diet. Triglycerides, which make up the majority of dietary lipids, are found in both saturated fats—commonly present in meat, dairy products, and certain tropical plants like coconut, and hydrogenated oils such as margarine and baking shortenings (trans fats)—and unsaturated fats, which are abundant in seeds, nuts, olive oil, and most vegetable oils. The main sources of cholesterol include egg yolks, various meats and organ meats, shellfish,...

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...

What are Lipids?

What are Lipids?

What are Lipids?

What are Lipids?

Lipids function as structural components of cellular membranes, in addition to acting as energy reservoirs and signaling molecules. They are thus crucial to all living organisms. The three biologically important classes of lipids are triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.
Non-Polar and Hydrophobic Characteristics of Lipids
Lipids are a structurally and functionally diverse group of hydrocarbons—compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds...

Fats as Energy Storage Molecules

Fats as Energy Storage Molecules

Triglycerides are a form of long-term energy storage molecules. They are made of glycerol and three fatty acids. To obtain energy from fat, triglycerides must first be broken down by hydrolysis into their two principal components, fatty acids and glycerol. This process, called lipolysis, takes place in the cytoplasm. The resulting fatty acids are oxidized by β-oxidation into acetyl-CoA, which is used by the Krebs cycle. The glycerol that is released from triglycerides after lipolysis directly...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Female Sexual Anatomy Training in Medical Education-Are We Adequately Preparing Our Students for Patient Care?

Teaching and learning in medicine·2026

Same author

The Physician Experience Teaching an Integrated Curriculum to First-Year Medical Students.

The Permanente journal·2023

Same author

Models of clinical integration into basic science education for first-year medical students.

Medical teacher·2022

Same author

Reducing hospital readmissions through primary care practice transformation.

The Journal of family practice·2014

Same author

An assessment of family medicine residency networks in the United States.

Journal of graduate medical education·2013

Same author

Effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention in promoting the well-being of independently living older people: results of the Well Elderly 2 Randomised Controlled Trial.

Journal of epidemiology and community health·2011

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans

Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: November 29, 2013

Dietary fatty acids.

¹University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. brettwhitemd@gmail.com

American Family Physician

|August 15, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Saturated and trans fats increase coronary heart disease risk, while unsaturated fats may decrease it. Omega-3 fatty acids show potential anti-inflammatory and therapeutic benefits for various conditions.

More Related Videos

Fatty Acid 13C Isotopologue Profiling Provides Insight into Trophic Carbon Transfer and Lipid Metabolism of Invertebrate Consumers

Fatty Acid ¹³C Isotopologue Profiling Provides Insight into Trophic Carbon Transfer and Lipid Metabolism of Invertebrate Consumers

Published on: April 17, 2018

Isolation of Lipoprotein Particles from Chicken Egg Yolk for the Study of Bacterial Pathogen Fatty Acid Incorporation into Membrane Phospholipids

Isolation of Lipoprotein Particles from Chicken Egg Yolk for the Study of Bacterial Pathogen Fatty Acid Incorporation into Membrane Phospholipids

Published on: May 15, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans

Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: November 29, 2013

Fatty Acid 13C Isotopologue Profiling Provides Insight into Trophic Carbon Transfer and Lipid Metabolism of Invertebrate Consumers

Fatty Acid ¹³C Isotopologue Profiling Provides Insight into Trophic Carbon Transfer and Lipid Metabolism of Invertebrate Consumers

Published on: April 17, 2018

Isolation of Lipoprotein Particles from Chicken Egg Yolk for the Study of Bacterial Pathogen Fatty Acid Incorporation into Membrane Phospholipids

Isolation of Lipoprotein Particles from Chicken Egg Yolk for the Study of Bacterial Pathogen Fatty Acid Incorporation into Membrane Phospholipids

Published on: May 15, 2019

Area of Science:

Nutrition Science
Cardiovascular Health
Biochemistry

Background:

Fatty acids are essential dietary components with diverse physiological effects.
Different types of fatty acids (saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, trans) have varying impacts on health.
Omega-3 fatty acids, a subset of polyunsaturated fats, are recognized for potential anti-inflammatory properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the classification of fatty acids.
To examine the association between different fatty acid types and coronary heart disease risk.
To explore the potential therapeutic applications of omega-3 fatty acids.

Main Methods:

Literature review and synthesis of existing research findings.
Analysis of observational studies linking dietary fat intake to cardiovascular outcomes.
Examination of studies investigating the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in various medical conditions.

Main Results:

Saturated and trans fats are linked to increased coronary heart disease risk.
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats may be associated with decreased coronary heart disease risk, though evidence is mixed.
Omega-3 fatty acids show promise in managing inflammatory conditions, cystic fibrosis, and potentially preventing dementia.

Conclusions:

Physicians should advise patients to limit intake of hydrogenated oils and trans fats due to cardiovascular risks.
Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the benefits and mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids.
Dietary fat composition plays a critical role in cardiovascular health and overall well-being.