The major chemical compound found in dietary fats and in the storage fat in adipose tissue. A glycerol molecule (C3H8O3) combines with three fatty acids, mostly of chain length 1420.
Chain lengths of the fatty acids in naturally occurring triglycerides can be from 5 to 28 carbon atoms, but 17 and 19 are most common.
Most natural fats contain a complex mixture of individual triglycerides; Cocoa butter is unusual in that it is composed of only a few triglycerides, one of which contains palmitic, oleic and stearic acids in that order.
In cells, triglyceride (also known as neutral fat) can pass through the cell membrane freely, unlike other molecules, because of its non-polar characteristic which doesn't react with the
phospholipid bilayer membrane.
Metabolism
Triglycerides play an important role in metabolism as energy sources. In the intestine, triglycerides are split into glycerol and fatty acids (this process is called lipolysis) (with the help of lipases and bile secretions), which can then move into blood vessels. The triglycerides are rebuilt in the blood from their fragments and become constituents of lipoproteins, which deliver the fatty acids to and from fat cells among other functions. When the body requires fatty acids as an energy source, the hormone glucagon signals the breakdown of the triglycerides by hormone-sensitive lipase to release free fatty acids. As the brain can not utilize fatty acids as an energy source, the glycerol component of triglycerides can be converted into glucose for brain fuel when it is broken down.
Role in disease
In the human body, high levels of triglycerides in the bloodstream have been linked to atherosclerosis, and, by extension, the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Another disease caused by high triglycerides is pancreatitis.
Guidelines
The American Heart Association has set guidelines for triglyceride levels:
| Level mg/dL | Level mmol/L | Interpretation |
| <150 | <1.69 | Normal range, lowest risk |
| 150-199 | 1.70-2.25 | Borderline high |
| 200-498 | 2.25-5.63 | High |
| >500 | >5.65 | Very high, increased risk |
Please note that this information is relevant to triglyceride levels as tested after fasting.
Reducing triglyceride levels
Cardiovascular exercise and low-moderate carbohydrate diets containing essential fatty acid are recommended for reducing triglyceride levels. When these fail, fish oils, fibrate drugs, niacin, and some statins are registered for reducing triglyceride levels. Prior alcohol intake can cause elevated levels of triglycerides, and reducing alcohol intake is routinely recommended in patients with high triglyceride levels.
Industrial induced modifications
Industrial plants processing and using edible oils in large quantities require consistency in the mix of oil molecules, but plant oil availability varies by season.
Large scale processing plants, treating some 100 to 700 tons of oil per day, separate rare fractions of oil molecules that only occur in very small amounts in inexpensive oils. The oils that are typical in cacao, one of the most expensive oils on the industrial market, can also be also be found in small quantities in inexpensive oils such as rapeseed (canola), corn oil, etc.
Industrial uses
Triglycerides are also split into their components via transesterification during the manufacture of biodiesel.
Staining
Staining for fatty acids, triglycerides, lipoproteins, and other lipids is done through the use of lysochromes (fat-soluble dyes).
User Comments Add a comment…