fats
Last reviewed 01/2018
Fats are molecules containing fatty acids as constituents. They include:
- neutral fats - triglycerides: used as an energy store
- brown fat in infants
- structural fats:
- phospholipids
- glycolipids
- sphingomyelins
Certain fats must be present within the diet because they contain fatty acids which cannot be produced by alternative pathways - the essential fatty acids. As well as crucial roles as a fuel and in cellular structure, fats are used to absorb fat soluble vitamins from the gut and as insulating material within the hypodermis.