Triglyceride Biosynthesis

Introduction

 Triglyceride is actually fat in your blood that is stored

in your body.
 These fats come from foods that we eat.
 Our body can also make these fats from starchy or
sugary foods.
 When food is eaten at a meal and not used soon for
energy then it is changed to triglyceride and stored in
fat cells. This stored fat can later be used for energy
by the body.
 Lipids: Lipid is a general term that describes substances that
are relatively hydrophobic: water-insoluble and extractable by
non-polar solvents.
 TAGs are esters of the alcohol glycerol reacting with fatty
acids.
 Esters: esters are classes of chemical compounds.
 Glycerol: Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups that are
responsible for its solubility in water and its hygroscopic
nature.
 Fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long aliphatic tail (chain),
which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally
occurring fatty acids have a chain of an even number of carbon
atoms, from 4 to 28.
STRUCTURE OF TRYGLYCERIDES
 Triglycerides in Animals

 Animals store their energy in

triglycerides with high
melting points which are
solid at room temperature.
 These triglycerides
 are referred to as fats.
 result from reaction
between glycerol and a
saturated fatty acid e.g.
stearic acid.
 Triglycerides in Plants

 Plants store their energy

in triglycerides with low
melting points which are
liquid at room
temperature.
 Triglycerides in Cells

 Triglycerides are insoluble

in water because they
have no charge i.e. they
have covalent bonds. This
causes them to form
droplets in the cytoplasm.
 Functions of Triglycerides:

 Energy storage –
 Source of metabolic water
 Source of metabolic water
–water is released on
the breakdown of
triglycerides and this
property is used efficiently is
by desert mammals.
 Insulation – triglycerides
are found in the blubber
of whales and other
aquatic animals.
 Buoyancy – aquatic
animals use triglycerides
to help them float as they
are less dense than water.
Liver
and
kidney
Biosynthesis of triacylglycerol
 How Non-polar TAG is
Transported from Intestine to the Liver
and other Tissues by the Blood? ….
and other Tissues by the Blood?
 Hypertriglyceridemia

 This means that there is too much fat in the blood. The
fat can clog the blood vessels.
 Clogged blood vessels can raise your risk for heart
attack or stroke.
 What should be your triglyceride level?

The National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines are as follows:

 Normal level Less than 150 mg./dL.

 Borderline-High150 to 199 mg./dL.
 High200 to 499 mg./dL.
 Very High500 mg./dL. or higher
NOTE: The above results are based on an overnight fast from food and
alcohol.
 How can you lower you high
triglycerides?
 1. If you are overweight, cut down on calories to lose weight. Your
healthcare
 provider or dietitian can help you set a goal weight.
 2. If you drink alcohol, decrease or cut out the amount. Small amounts of
alcohol
 can raise your triglyceride levels.
 3. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes each day on most days. One
hour
 of physical activity each day is the best target to work toward.
 4. If you smoke, get help to stop.
 5. Follow recommended dietary intake shown on the back.
 6. Eat small, frequent meals.
 7. Limit sugar intake.