Friday, December 20, 2013

FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS

Lipids perform several important functions in human body :
1) They are the major concentrated fuel reserve of the body
2) Lipids are the components of cell membrane structure and regulate the membrane permeability.
3) They are important  for the digestion, absorption and utilization of fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A, D, E and K.
4) Lipids are essen as cellular metabolic regulators (Steroid hormones and prostaglandin).
5) Lipids protects the internal organs serving as insulating materials.
6) As compounds of the mitochondrial membranes, lipids (phospholipids) participate in electron transport chain.
7) Fat  helps in palatability to the diet and slows stomach emptying time, thus giving a feeling of fullness. This delay of onset of hunger is called ‘ satiety value’ of fats.
8) The calories in fat spare the proteins from being oxidized for energy.
9) Fat deposited in the adipose tissue of body  serve as reserve source of energy during starvation. It acts as an insulator conserving the body heat.

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