Acid, fatty

Acid, fatty
One of many molecules that are long chains of lipid-carboxylic acid found in fats and oils and in cell membranes as a component of phospholipids and glycolipids. (Carboxylic acid is an organic acid containing the functional group -COOH.) Fatty acids come from animal and vegetable fats and oils. Fatty acids play roles outside the body; they are used as lubricants, in cooking and food engineering, and in the production of soaps, detergents, and cosmetics. Related terms include the following: Essential fatty acid: An essential fatty acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid needed by the body that is synthesized by plants but not by the human body and is therefore a dietary requirement. Free fatty acids: By-products of the metabolism of fat in adipose tissues. Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are a class of fatty acids found in fish oils, especially in salmon and other cold-water fish, that lowers the levels of cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoproteins) in the blood. (LDL cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol.) Trans fatty acid:Trans fatty acids (trans fats) are made through hydrogenation to solidify liquid oils. They increase the shelf life of oils and are found in vegetable shortenings and in some margarines, crackers, cookies, and snack foods. Intake of trans fatty acids increases blood LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) levels and raises the risk of coronary heart disease..

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Fatty acid metabolism — Fatty acids are an important source of energy for many organisms. Excess glucose can be stored efficiently as fat. Triglycerides yield more than twice as much energy for the same mass as do carbohydrates or proteins. All cell membranes are built… …   Wikipedia

  • Fatty — may refer to the following:In design: * Fatty container, a record box designed by Finnish designer Harri Koskinen.In medicine and science: * Fatty acid, in biochemistry a carboxylic acid. * Fatty acid metabolism, catabolic processes. * Fatty… …   Wikipedia

  • Fatty acid — Not to be confused with fat. Butyric acid, a short chain fatty acid Types of fats in food Unsaturated fat Monounsaturated fat Polyun …   Wikipedia

  • acid — acidly, adv. acidness, n. /as id/, n. 1. Chem. a compound usually having a sour taste and capable of neutralizing alkalis and reddening blue litmus paper, containing hydrogen that can be replaced by a metal or an electropositive group to form a… …   Universalium

  • fatty acid — riebalų rūgštis statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Alifatinė monokarboksirūgštis, dažniausiai turinti ilgą angliavandenilinę grandinę, riebalų ar aliejaus hidrolizės produktas. atitikmenys: angl. fat acid; fatty acid rus. жирная кислота …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • Fatty acid synthase — (FAS) is enzymatic system composed of 272 kDa multifunctional polypeptide, in which substrates are handed from one functional domain to the next [Alberts, A.W., Strauss, A.W., Hennessy, S. Vagelos, P.R. Regulation of synthesis of hepatic fatty… …   Wikipedia

  • Fatty acid desaturase — Fatty acid desaturase, type 1 Identifiers Symbol Fatty acid desaturase 1 Pfam PF00487 InterPro …   Wikipedia

  • Fatty acid degradation — is the process in which fatty acids are broken down into their metabolites, resulting in release of its energy to the target cells. It includes three major steps: *Lipolysis of and release from adipose tissue, *Activation and transport into… …   Wikipedia

  • Fatty acid — Fatty Fat ty, a. Containing fat, or having the qualities of fat; greasy; gross; as, a fatty substance. [1913 Webster] {Fatty acid} (Chem.), any one of the paraffin series of monocarbonic acids, as formic acid, acetic, etc.; so called because the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fatty acid synthesis — Fatty acids are formed by the action of Fatty acid synthases from acetyl CoA and malonyl CoA precursors. De Novo Synthesis in HumansIn humans fatty acids are predominantly formed in the liver and adipose tissue, and mammary glands during… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”