Lipids are a family of organic compounds that are mostly insoluble in water, meaning they do not mix well with water. There are three main types of lipids: triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols. On this page, we’ll learn about the structures of these three types of lipids, as well as their functions in the body and where you can find them in foods.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are the main form of lipids in the body and in foods. More than 95 percent of lipids in the diet are in the form of triglycerides, some having a visible presence and some hidden in foods. Concentrated fats (butter and vegetable oil, for example) and marbling of fat in meat are obviously visible. But fat can also be hidden in foods, as in baked goods, dairy products like milk and cheese, and fried foods. Naturally occurring triglycerides are found in many foods, including avocados, olives, corn, and nuts. We commonly call the triglycerides in our food “fats” and “oils.” Fats are lipids that are solid at room temperature, whereas oils are liquid. The terms fats, oils, and triglycerides are often used interchangeably. In this unit, when we use the word fat, we are referring to triglycerides.

Figure 5.5. 95% of fats in the diet are in the form of triglycerides. Sterols (like cholesterol) make up about 3% of dietary fat intake and phospholipids make up roughly 2% of dietary fat intake.

The structure of a triglyceride is made up of glycerol and three fatty acids. Glycerol is the three-carbon backbone of triglycerides, while fatty acids are longer chains of carbon molecules attached to the glycerol backbone. The “glyceride” in the word “triglyceride” refers to this glycerol backbone, while the “tri” refers to the fact that there are three fatty acids attached. Fatty acids are called acids because they have an acid group (−COOH) on one end of a carbon chain. A monoglyceride contains glycerol with one fatty acid attached, and a diglyceride contains glycerol with two fatty acids attached.

Figure 5.6. The chemical structure of a triglyceride, showing the glycerol backbone and three attached fatty acids.

Figure 5.7. The structure of a triglyceride is often depicted as a simplified drawing of the glycerol backbone and three fatty acids.

There are different types of fatty acids, and triglycerides can contain a mixture of them. Fatty acids are classified by their carbon chain length and degree of saturation. Foods contain different proportions of fatty acid types, and this influences disease risks associated with dietary patterns. We will take a closer look at these differences, along with food sources, in the next section.

Phospholipids

Phospholipids are found in both plants and animals but make up only about 2 percent of dietary lipids. However, they play many important roles in the body and in foods. Phospholipids can also be synthesized by the body, so they don’t have to be consumed in the diet.

Phospholipids are similar in structure to triglycerides (Figure 5.8). Like triglycerides, phospholipids have a glycerol backbone. But unlike triglycerides, phospholipids only have two fatty acid molecules attached to the glycerol backbone, while the third carbon of the glycerol backbone is bonded to a phosphate group—a chemical group that contains the mineral phosphorus.

Figure. 5.8. The structural difference between a triglyceride (on the left) and a phospholipid (on the right) is in the third carbon position, where the phospholipid contains a phosphate group instead of a fatty acid.

The unique structure of phospholipids makes them both fat- and water-soluble, or amphiphilic. The fatty-acids are hydrophobic (dislike water), and the phosphate group and glycerol are hydrophilic (attracted to water).

Figure 5.9. A phospholipid molecule consists of a polar phosphate “head,” which is hydrophilic, and a non-polar lipid “tail,” which is hydrophobic.

The amphiphilic nature of phospholipids makes them very useful for several functions in the body. Every cell in the body is encased in a membrane composed primarily of a double layer of phospholipids (also known as the phospholipid bilayer), which protects the inside of the cell from the outside environment while at the same time allowing for transport of fat and water through the membrane. Phospholipids also play a role in transporting fats in the blood, as we’ll learn later in this unit.

Figure 5.10. The phospholipid bilayer consists of two adjacent sheets of phospholipids, arranged tail to tail. The hydrophobic tails associate with one another, forming the interior of the membrane. The polar heads contact the fluid inside and outside of the cell.

Another important role of phospholipids is to act as emulsifiers. Emulsions are mixtures of two liquids that do not normally mix (oil and water, for example). Without an emulsifier, the oil and water separate out into two layers. Because of their ability to mix with both water and fat, phospholipids are ideal emulsifiers that can keep oil and water mixed, dispersing tiny oil droplets throughout the water. Lecithin—a phospholipid found in egg yolk, soybean, and wheat germ—is often used as a food emulsifier. Emulsifiers also play an important role in making food appetizing; their inclusion in foods like sauces and creams makes for a smoother texture and prevents the oil and water ingredients from separating out. They also can extend shelf life.

 

Sterols

Sterols have a very different structure from triglycerides and phospholipids. Most sterols do not contain any fatty acids but rather are multi-ring structures, similar to chicken wire. They are complex molecules that contain interlinking rings of carbon atoms, with side chains of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen attached.

Cholesterol is the best-known sterol because of its role in heart disease. It forms a large part of the fatty plaques that narrow arteries and obstruct blood flow in atherosclerosis. However, cholesterol also has many essential functions in the body. Like phospholipids, cholesterol is present in all body cells as it is an important substance in cell membrane structure. Cholesterol is also used in the body as a precursor in the synthesis of a number of important substances, including vitamin D, bile, and sex hormones such as progesterone, testosterone, and estrogens.

Figure 5.11. Cholesterol is made up of multiple carbon rings bonded together.

Cholesterol is not an essential nutrient; it does not need to be consumed in the diet, because it is manufactured in the liver. Only foods that come from animal sources contain cholesterol. Cholesterol is found in foods like meat, poultry, fish, egg yolks, butter, and dairy products made from whole milk.

Plant foods do not contain cholesterol, but sterols found in plants resemble cholesterol in structure. Plant sterols inhibit cholesterol absorption in the human body, which can contribute to lower cholesterol levels, particularly lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels. Plant sterols occur naturally in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. In addition, some foods like margarines and dressings are fortified with plant sterols.

Self-Check:

Attributions:

• Lindshield, B. L. Kansas State University Human Nutrition (FNDH 400) Flexbook. goo.gl/vOAnR, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
• University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Food Science and Human Nutrition Program, “Digestion and Absorption of Lipids,” CC BY-NC 4.0

Image Credits:

• Figure 5.5. “Types of Fat” by Allison Calabrese is licensed under CC BY 4.0
• Figure 5.6. “The Structure of a Triglyceride” by Allison Calabrese is licensed under CC BY 4.0
• Figure 5.7. “Simple Triglyceride Diagram” by Alice Calahan is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
• Figure 5.8. “The Difference Between Triglycerides and Phospholipids” by Allison Calabrese is licensed under CC BY 4.0
• Figure 5.9. “Phospholipid Structure” by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix is licensed under CC BY 4.0
• Figure 5.10. “Phospolipid Bilayer” by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix is licensed under CC BY 4.0
• Figure 5.11. “Cholesterol Chemical Structure” by Wesalius is in the Public Domain