FUNCTIONS, PROPERTIES AND

I MPORTANCE OF LIPIDS

PRESENTED TO: PRESENTED BY:

DR. SAMEENA Roll #1- Almas M Arshad (Group Leader)
Roll # 2 - Sana Ch
Roll # 4 - Qurat-ul-Ain Aslam
Roll # 5 - Waleed Maqbool
Roll # 6 - Afia Tariq
Roll # 83 - Iqra Rafi
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Structure of Lipids ................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Fatty Acids ................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Definition
Major Points
Classification of Fatty Acids........................................................................................................................................ 5 -6
Saturated Fatty Acids
Unsaturated Fatty Acids
Branched chain Fatty Acids
Cyclic Fatty Acids
Substituted Fatty Acids
Eicosanoid
Properties Of Lipids ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 - 13
Chemical Properties
 Hydrolysis
 Saponification
 Hydrogenation
 Rancidity
 Ester Formation
 Prostaglandin Formation

Physical Properties

Functions Of Lipids.................................................................................................................................................... 14 – 18

Functions of Saturated Lipids

Functions of Unsaturated Lipids

Functions of Essential Lipids

Importance Of Lipids ............................................................................................................................................... 19 - 22

Structural Importance Of Lipids

Chemical Importance Of Lipids

Role of Lipids in Brain Injury

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Importance of Lipids in Food Industry

Exact Balance of Lipids which should be taken in Diet

STRUCTURE OF LIPIDS

The “tail” of a fatty acid is a long hydrocarbon chain, making it hydrophobic. The
“head” of the molecule is a carboxyl group which is hydrophilic.
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HYDROPHILIC
PART

FATTY ACIDS:
Definition:
"Structural Units of lipids that are monocarboxylic, organic acids that made up of
the hydrocarbon chains."

Major Points:
 Are made up of atleast 2 carbon atoms
 Chain length of lipid forming fatty acids range from 4 to about 24v carbon
atoms.
 Fatty acids which occur in neutral fats usually contain even number of carbon
atoms.

Classification:
On the Basis Of biological Importance;
 Essential Fatty Acids
 Non-Essential Fatty Acids

On the Basis Of types of bonds;

 Saturated fatty acids
 Unsaturated fatty acids

Other Fatty acids;

 Branched Chain fatty acids.
 Substituted fatty acids
 Cyclic fatty acids
 Eicosanoid fatty acids
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Classification of Fatty Acids

1) Saturated fatty acids:

Fatty acids have no double bonds between the individual carbon atoms of the fatty
acid chain.

Lower Fatty Acids: Having 10 or less than 10 Carbons  Acetic Acid.

Higher Fatty Acids: Having more than 10 Carbons  Palmitic Acid.

Fatty
acid viscosity, (thickness)
and melting
Butter, Cheese and cream are some examples of saturated fatty acids temperature increases
with decreasing number
2) Un-saturated fatty acids: of double bonds
Fatty acid which has at least one double bond within
the fatty acid chain.
Unsaturated fatty acids increase the fluidity of the cell
membrane.

Types of Unsaturated Fatty Acids:

 Mono unsaturated fatty acids.
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 Poly unsaturated fatty acids.

3) Branched Chain fatty acids:

Are branched at different points.
EXAMPLE: sebum and butter.

4) Substituted fatty acids:

Naturally occurring fatty acids in which the methyl group is replaced by –OH
group.
Examples: Cerebronic acid of brain, Glycolipids.
5) Cyclic fatty acids:
Fatty acids bearing cyclic groups.
Example: Hydnocarpic acid, Chaulmoogric acid.
Where earlier used as treatment of leprosy.

6) Eicosanoids fatty acids:

Derivatives of eicosapolyenoic fatty acids.

Chemical Names and Descriptions of some Common Fatty Acids

C arbon Double
Common Name Atoms Bonds
Scientific Name Sources

Butyric acid 4 0 butanoic acid butterfat

Caproic Acid 6 0 hexanoic acid butterfat
Caprylic Acid 8 0 octanoic acid coconut oil
Capric Acid 10 0 decanoic acid coconut oil
Lauric Acid 12 0 dodecanoic acid coconut oil
Myristic Acid 14 0 tetradecanoic acid palm kernel oil
Palmitic Acid 16 0 hexadecanoic acid palm oil
Palmitoleic Acid 16 1 9-hexadecenoic acid animal fats
Stearic Acid 18 0 octadecanoic acid animal fats
Oleic Acid 18 1 9-octadecenoic acid olive oil
Ricinoleic acid 18 1 12-hydroxy-9-octadecenoic acid castor oil
Vaccenic Acid 18 1 11-octadecenoic acid butterfat
Linoleic Acid 18 2 9,12-octadecadienoic acid grape seed oil

Alpha-Linolenic Acid flaxseed (linseed)

18 3 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid
(ALA) oil
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Gamma-Linolenic
Acid 18 3 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid borage oil
(GLA)
peanut oil,
Arachidic Acid 20 0 eicosanoic acid
fish oil
Gadoleic Acid 20 1 9-eicosenoic acid fish oil
Arachidonic Acid
20 4 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid liver fats
(AA)
5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic
EPA 20 5 fish oil
acid

PROPERTIES OF LIPIDS:
Do you know?
The long hydrocarbon
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF LIPIDS: chain is quite resistant,
barely reacts in any
Essential components that define fatty acids: chemical reaction.
 Hydrocarbon chain(/s)
 Saturated (pure C-C bonds) or unsaturated (contains one or more C=C
bonds)
 Carboxylic acid
Chemical Properties of a substance depend upon its active group. In lipids these
are because of Carboxyl Group [which react with alcohols (R′OH) to form esters]
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Carboxyl part participating in Reaction of Fatty Acid

Some Chemical Properties are:

 Hydrolysis
 Saponification
 Hydrogenation
 Rancidity
 Ester Formation
 Prostaglandin Formation

1. Hydrolysis: Lipases are hydrolyzing

enzymes found in
“Hydrolysis is the process wherein a covalent
bond within a molecule is broken down by  Saliva
the addition of water”  gastric juice
 pancreatic juice
The fats may be hydrolyzed with the following:
 Super heated steam.
 By acids, or alkalis.
 By the specific fat splitting enzymes lipases.
Process results in one of the reaction products having a hydrogen atom where the
bond used to be, and the other having a hydroxyl group (-OH, also known as an
alcohol)
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Hydrolysis of Glyceride

2. Saponification:

“Triglycerides are reacted with strong Alkali (sodium or potassium hydroxide)

to produce glycerol and a fatty acid salt, called soap.”
 Triglycerides, are mixtures derived from diverse fatty acids.
 For soap making, the triglycerides are highly purified.
 Soap formed by this process is precipitated by salting it
out with saturated sodium chloride.
 Saponification value: The number of milligrams of potassium
hydroxide required to saponify 1g of fat under the conditions
specified.
Ref:
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Saponification of a triglyceride with sodium hydroxide to give soap and glycerine

3. Hydrogenation:
“A chemical reduction, between molecular hydrogen (H2) and another
compound or element, usually in the presence of a catalyst.”
 The Catalysts used are: Platinum, palladium, rhodium, and ruthenium
and Raney nickel and Urushibara nickel
 Unsaturated fatty acids may be converted to saturated fatty acids by
the relatively simple hydrogenation reaction.
Oleic Acid-Unsaturated + H2 ----  Stearic Acid-Saturated

Hydrogenation of Oleic Acid-Unsaturated

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4. Rancidity:

“Rancidity is the chemical decomposition of fats, oils and other lipids

yielding an unpleasant and noxious odor.”

Types of Rancidity: Rancidity is due to

oxidative and
 Hydrolytic rancidity occurs when water Hydrolytic nature.
splits fatty acid chains away from the
glycerol backbone in glycerides.
 Oxidative rancidity occurs when the double bonds of an unsaturated
fatty acid react chemically with oxygen.
 Microbial rancidity refers to a process in which microorganisms such
as bacteria use their enzymes, including lipases, to break down
chemical structures in the fat.

It results in formation of aldehydes and ketones which occurs in contact with

air at room temperature which gives undesirable odor and flavor.

Factors affecting oxidation  A cause of Rancidity:

 Light, heat, metals (iron and copper), oxidizer as chlorophyll,

hemoglobin, and certain synthetic dyes.
 Another factor affecting the oxidation rate is the amount of oxygen, the
degree of unsaturation of fatty acids in oils etc
 And the presence of antioxidants.
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Process of oxidization of Lipids-Rancidity

5. Ester Formation:
Fatty acids in combination with alcohols form esters.
Examples with glycerol form mono-, di- and tri- glycerides and with other
alcohols form waxes.

Ester Formation

6. Prostaglandin Formation:
 Prostaglandins are substances enzymatic-ally derived from essential
fatty acids in almost all nucleated cells and are found in most tissues
and organs.
 They are mediators acting
upon platelets, endothelium, uterine and mast cells and have a variety
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of strong physiological effects (such as regulating the contraction and

relaxation of smooth muscle tissue).
 Have short half life and are soon excreted out of the body when
released and used.

Prostaglandins differ from hormones

in that they are not produced at a
discrete site but in many places
throughout the human body.

Prostaglandin Formation

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LIPIDS:

 Colorless
 Odorless
 Tasteless
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 Hydrophobic (repel water and so insoluble in

water) and soluble in only organic solvents (such
as ether, hexane or chloroform) because of the
non-polar hydrocarbon chain.
 Specific gravity is less than 1.0
 Are Saturated* and unsaturated**
*Saturated : No double bonds in structure of any fatty acid
chain..like fat and butter..
*Unsaturated : Having Double or Triple bond in the structure of their
fatty acid chain like Olive oil

 Emulsified when shaken with water. Glycerophospholipid

 High solubility with increasing number of s are good
double bonds of its long hydrophobic fatty emulsifying agents.
acid chain.
 Melting point of lipids increase with
increasing number of carbon atoms in the
fatty acid chain.

FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS:

Functions of Saturated Lipids:

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 Saturated fat tends to increase blood cholesterol levels. Most saturated fats
tend to be solid at room temperature, with the exception of tropical oils.

Functions of Unsaturated Lipids:

 Monounsaturated fat tends to lower LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol).
 Polyunsaturated Fat ends to lower blood cholesterol levels.

Functions of Essential Lipids:

 Enhance the energy production by helping the body obtain more oxygen
Increase oxidative rate, increase metabolic rate, increase energy levels,
increase stamina, enhance the fat burning.

 Development and function of the brain and nervous system. Especially helps
in learning problems: Dyslexia and Hyperactivity, correction in criminal
behavior, improved function in metabolic illness.

 They play a role in thinning your blood by formation of prostaglandins

which makes blood less sticky, which can prevent blood clots that lead to
heart attacks and stroke.

 Help regulate proper liver, kidney and glands (thyroid and adrenal) activity.

 Help Kidney dump the extra water out of it.

 Immune system use Essential fatty acids to make ‘oxygen’ bullets to fight
against foreign invaders.

 Responsible for cholesterol transport.

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Cholesterol Transport

 Eicosanoid are signaling molecules derived from the essential fatty acids
(EFA); they are a major pathway by which the EFAs act in the body.

Inflammatory Response

Functions of Other Lipids:

 Phospholipids are important components of the cell membrane.

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Lipids-an important component of all the Membranes

 Energy storage: Triglycerides, stored in adipose tissue, are a major form of

energy storage both in animals and plants. The fat cell-adipocyte is broken
down by the activation of hormone-sensitive enzyme lipase.
 Storage and transport of vitamins-ADEK
The complete oxidation of fatty
acids provides high caloric content,
about 9 kcal/g, compared with
4 kcal/g for the breakdown
of carbohydrates and proteins.
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Transport of vitamins

 Hormone production: Arachidonic acid is used for the biosynthesis of

prostaglandins. These molecules are used in the cascade events associated
with pain and inflammation.

Hormone production from lipids

 Protection of organs (e.g on Kidneys) and acts as an insulation material

around it to maintain the temperature.
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Fat on Kidney

 Cholesterol-an important lipid responsible for the formation of membranes,

steroid hormones, vitamin D and Bile Salts.

 Cell Signaling: Lipid signaling may occur via activation of G protein-

coupled or nuclear receptors.

Cell Signaling

 Lipids are responsible for inflammation

after a tissue injury by the formation of
prostaglandins.

Cholesterol-an important Lipid

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Prostaglandin causing inflammation 1

IMPORTANCE OF LIPIDS:
STRUCTURAL IMPORTANCE:

1. Structural component - plasma membrane (phospho-lipids)

2. Energy source - can be oxidized to get ATP by Kreb’s cycle.

3. Storage material - triglycerides under skin of mammals.

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4. Protection - cuticle prevents drying of leaves sebum prevents drying and

cracking of skin fat layer around some organs like heart protects and absorbs
shock
5. Insulation
 myelin sheath around neurons (electrical insulation)
 Keeps body warm (Thermal Insulation)

6. Gives characteristic scent to plants (lemon - limoneme, mint – menthol

7. Gives buoyancy - blubber in whales
8. Surfactant in lungs prevent collapsing of lungs

CLINICAL IMPORTANCE OF LIPIDS:

Lipids can be responsible for Immunodeficiency:

 Radiation and vegetable oils can cause "acquired

immunodeficiency."
 Unsaturated oils, especially polyunsaturated fat,
weaken the immune system's function in ways
that are similar to the damage caused by
radiation, hormone imbalance, cancer, aging, or Insulation
viral infections.
 Immune system modulation by dietary lipids is attributed due to changes in
the composition of membrane phospholipids, lipid per-oxidation, alteration
of gene expression, or eicosanoid production.
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Schematic representation of potential role of dietary lipids and biological and clinical consequences of the
administration of several dietary lipids. PUFAs, polyunsaturated fatty acids; MUFAs, monounsaturated fatty
acids; SFAs, saturated fatty acids.

ROLE OF LIPIDS IN BRAIN INJURY AND DISEASES:

 Lipidosis: Lipid storage diseases, or the lipidoses, are a group of
inherited metabolic disorders in which harmful amounts of fatty materials
(lipids) accumulate particularly in the brain, peripheral nervous system,
liver, spleen, and bone marrow.
 People with these disorders either do not produce enough of one of the
enzymes needed to break down (metabolize) lipids or they produce enzymes
that do not work properly.
 Over time, this excessive storage of fats can cause permanent cellular and
tissue damage, causing:
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i. Alzheimer’s Disease
ii. Parkinson’s Disease;
iii. Niemann-Pick;
iv. Multiple sclerosis,
v. Schizophrenia,
vi. Epilepsy
vii. CNS injury (Stroke, traumatic brain injury; and spinal cord injury)

IMPORTANCE OF LIPIDS IN DIET:

Oils and fats are almost ubiquitous in food processing - whether naturally
occurring in foods or added as ingredients for

 Functional benefits and

 Essential part
 Both the quantity and the quality of the fat consumed are vital to achieving a
balanced diet.
 Role of lipids in some of the more important disease conditions such as
obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer.
 Affects he nutritional value, taste and texture of foods.
 Health concerns regarding high-fat diets damages blood vessel, high blood
pressure, increases weight, increases metabolic diseases, obesity.
 Diseases caused by Obesity are indirectly related to High-lipid diet when
obesity is due to high-lipids, include; Heart Failure, Enlarged Heart,
Pulmonary Embolism, Menstrual Disorder, Fatty Liver Disease, Infertility,
Hernia, Urinary incontinence, Chronic Renal Failure, Breast Cancer and
Stretch marks
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Exact Balance of Lipid which Should Be Taken In Diet:

References:
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/555prostagland.html

www.google.com

http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/unsaturad-oils.shtteml

www.wikipedia.com

http://www2.chemistry.msu.edu/faculty/reusch/VirtTxtJml/lipids.htm

http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/lipids.htm

http://www.jbc.org/content/122/1/77.full.pdf

http://www.whereincity.com/medical/fats/
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http://www.biotopics.co.uk/as/condensation_and_hydrolysis.html

http://www.rpi.edu/dept/bcbp/molbiochem/MBWeb/mb2/part1/prostag.htm

http://www.cyberlipid.org/fa/acid0001.htm

http://www.margarine.org.uk/whatisfat-types.html

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/fats/saturated-vs-unsaturated-fatty-
acids.html#b

http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/551fattyacids.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_fatty_acid

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm/

http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/fattyacids.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-fatty-acids.htm