Lipids

Functions of lipid in our body are as body insulators, protect organs from trauma, energy reserves, feeling of satiety, supply essential fatty acid for maintenance and growth, precursor of sex and adrenal hormones, formation of vitamin D, carrier of fat soluble vitamin A,D, E, and K, and provides flavor and palatability of foods. Factor affecting the digestion and absorption of fats are age, physical nature, present of emulsifier agent, health of intestinal lining, cooking temperature, present of dietary mineral and bile or enzyme production.

Examples of lipid in our body are lipoprotein and cholesterol. Lipoprotein is divided into three types which is very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). VLDL is used to transport cholesterol and it is normally converted to LDL. LDL is carrier for cholesterol which has about 25% protein and 75%lipid. It has great affinity toward artery walls and thus increases the risk of arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular problems. HDL have 50% apoprotein and smaller to LDL. It carries tissue esterified cholesterol to liver, fostering the conversion f cholesterol to bile salts, block the uptake of LDL and facilitate blood enzyme to esterify free cholesterol to make it less likely to enter tissue. HDL is healthy cholesterol. Disorders related to the lipid are fatty liver and gallbladder stones in billary tract.