What do fats or triglycerides do in the body?

Triglycerides, cholesterol and other essential fatty acids—the scientific term for fats the body can’t make on its own—store energy, insulate us and protect our vital organs. They act as messengers, helping proteins do their jobs.

Does your body need triglycerides?

After you eat, your body converts the calories that you don’t need into triglycerides and stores them in your fat cells to be used for energy later. While triglycerides are an important energy supply for your body, having too many triglycerides in your blood can increase your risk for heart disease ( 1 ).

What do triglycerides break down into?

Triglycerides hydrolyzed into one molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acids by the enzyme lipase. Glycerol is phosphorylated to glycerol-3-phosphate by the enzyme glycerol kinase. The phosphate group is provided by the ATP.

What role do triglycerides serve in the human body?

Triglycerides are a type of fat that plays a major role as an energy source when they are metabolized in the human body. They are very rich in energy, containing double the energy of either carbohydrates or proteins that can also be used to supply energy to the body.

How are triglycerides used as energy in the body?

Triglycerides are used to store excess energy. When the body has calories more than its immediate needs, these calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat and muscle cells. These triglycerides can be broken down and mobilised when the body has need for energy, for example, during exercise.

What is the purpose for triglycerides in the human body?

Triglycerides provide your body with energy, but their main function is to store energy for later use. The food you eat contains calories in the form of carbohydrates, protein and fat.

Are triglycerides the most common lipids in the human body?

Triglycerides are the most common lipids in the human body , and they contain three chains of fatty acids. They are similar in structure to phospholipids, which help build cell membranes. However, triglycerides are entirely hydrophobic, meaning they cannot dissolve in or mix with water and, as such, cannot integrate into cell membranes.