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Beyond the Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol targets, there are a lot of scientific terms used to explain cholesterol. Lipids and lipoproteins are frequently referred to in cholesterol articles, though often there's not a description of just what these are and what they do.
What Is A Lipid? According to dictionary.com, a lipid is an organic compound that is, "greasy to the touch, insoluble in water, and soluble in alcohol and ether: lipids comprise the fats and other esters with analogous properties and constitute, with proteins and carbohydrates, the chief structural components of living cells." So, lipids are molecules that don't dissolve in water, and act as cell 'building blocks.'
What Are The Kinds Of Lipids? There are many kinds of lipids. The most familiar types of lipids are triglycerides (a fatty acid) and cholesterol (a waxy, fatty lipid).
Is A Lipid A Fat? Although some use the term 'lipid' interchangeably with the term 'fat,' in fact, lipids and fats are not exactly synonymous. Rather, fats are a kind of lipid, specifically referred to as triglycerides. Triglycerides help move fat and sugar from the liver. Usually a cholesterol 'lipid panel' test measures triglycerides (in addition to total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL cholesterol) because high triglycerides are correlated with risk of Heart disease.
What Is A Lipoprotein? Lipoproteins are structures that contain both lipids and proteins. When a lipid (like the fat triglyceride) attaches to a protein, that structure is called a lipoprotein. The function of a lipoprotein is to carry the lipid around the body through the blood. Examples of lipoproteins include high-density (HDL) and low-density (LDL), which enable lipids like cholesterol to be carried to the liver.
Conclusion Lipids are molecules that don't dissolve in water; common and important lipids include triglycerides and cholesterol. A lipoprotein is a structure made up of a lipid and a protein. The job of lipoproteins is to carry the non-soluble lipids (like cholesterol and triglycerides) through the blood.
Did You Know? When you have your cholesterol checked, the HDL and LDL readings are actually measurements of the lipoproteins carrying the cholesterol, not the cholesterol itself.
What else can I help you with?
What are lipids transported around the body as?
Lipids are mainly transported around the body as lipoproteins. Lipoproteins consist of lipids (such as cholesterol and triglycerides) surrounded by proteins and help transport lipids through the bloodstream to cells that require them for energy or as building blocks.
Transport vehicles for lipids are called what?
Lipoproteins.
Which of the following plasma lipoproteins is the most soluble?
Lipoproteins are soluble in lipids; plasma is a suspension in blood.
A transport vehicle for lipids in the blood is a called?
lipoproteins
What Transport vehicles for most lipids are called?
Lipoproteins.
Transport vesicles in the blood for most lipids are called?
Chylomicrons transport dietary lipids, such as triglycerides, while very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) transport endogenously synthesized lipids, also mainly triglycerides from the liver.
Lipoproteins are important for?
Lipoproteins are used to transport lipids in the body. They are also integral parts of cell membranes and transporter molecules.
Why do lipids need a transport carrier?
Lipids are insoluble in water, so they need transport carriers like lipoproteins to travel in the bloodstream. These lipoproteins encapsulate the lipids, allowing them to be transported to various tissues throughout the body for energy production or storage.
What are the lipoproteins that carry absorbed lipids from the intestinal tract to the bloodstream?
Chylomicrons
What are the lipoproteins that carry absorbed lipids from the intestinal tract to the bloodstream called?
Chylomicrons
What are lipid carriers?
lipids being insoluble in water are transported in the body in the form of lipoproteins. These lipoproteins transport lipids from the intestine and the liver to the locations where the are oxidized or to adipose tissues where they are stored.
Can lipids dissolve in blood plasma?
Yes, lipids can dissolve in blood plasma. However, since blood is mostly water, lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides typically require carrier molecules called lipoproteins to travel in the bloodstream. Lipoproteins help transport lipids through the aqueous environment of the blood.
