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Vertebrates (including humans) use both sources of fat to produce energy for organs such as the heart to function. [6] Since lipids are hydrophobic molecules, they need to be solubilized before their metabolism can begin. Lipid metabolism often begins with hydrolysis, [7] which occurs with the help of various enzymes in the digestive system. [2]
Lipolysis / l ɪ ˈ p ɒ l ɪ s ɪ s / is the metabolic pathway through which lipid triglycerides are hydrolyzed into a glycerol and free fatty acids. It is used to mobilize stored energy during fasting or exercise, and usually occurs in fat adipocytes.
If the adipocytes in the body reach their maximum capacity of fat, they may replicate to allow additional fat storage. Adult rats of various strains became obese when they were fed a highly palatable diet for several months. Analysis of their adipose tissue morphology revealed increases in both adipocyte size and number in most depots.
These disorders may be described as fatty acid oxidation disorders or as a lipid storage disorders, and are any one of several inborn errors of metabolism that result from enzyme or transport protein defects affecting the ability of the body to oxidize fatty acids in order to produce energy within muscles, liver, and other cell types.
Examples of these lipids include cholesterol and triglycerides. The concentration of blood lipids depends on intake and excretion from the intestine, and uptake and secretion from cells. Hyperlipidemia is the presence of elevated or abnormal levels of lipids and/or lipoproteins in the blood, and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
In humans, the healthy amount of white adipose tissue varies with age, but composes between 6–25% of body weight in adult men and 14–35% in adult women. [1] [additional citation(s) needed] Its cells contain a single large fat droplet, which forces the nucleus to be squeezed into a thin rim at the periphery.
Cholesterol is the principal sterol of all higher animals, distributed in body tissues, especially the brain and spinal cord, and in animal fats and oils. [3] [4]Cholesterol is biosynthesized by all animal cells [citation needed] and is an essential structural and signaling component of animal cell membranes.
Because adipose tissue triglyceride is a major form of energy storage, the study of how ATGL regulation and dysregulation can lead to potential problems will increase understanding of the pathophysiology behind metabolic disorders. [13] ATGL is also the key enzyme that would be able to maintain a balance between mobilization and lipid storage.