Lipidek

Lipidek is the Hungarian term for lipids, a broad class of biomolecules that are predominantly hydrophobic or amphipathic and are insoluble in water. Lipidek are essential in biology for energy storage, membrane structure, and signaling. The category includes fatty acids, triacylglycerides (triglycerides), phospholipids, glycolipids, sterols, waxes, and related compounds.

Classification. Storage lipids, such as triglycerides and waxes, provide energy and insulation. Membrane lipids, including phospholipids and glycolipids, form cellular membranes and contribute to membrane fluidity and signaling platforms. Other important lipids include sterols (for example cholesterol and steroid hormones) and sphingolipids, which participate in signaling and cell recognition.

Properties and structure. Lipidek are largely nonpolar, but many contain polar groups that give amphipathic character. They are built mainly from fatty acids—long hydrocarbon chains with a carboxyl group—and diverse backbones such as glycerol or sphingosine. They vary in chain length, degree of saturation, and presence of double bonds, influencing melting point and membrane fluidity.

Metabolism and function. Digestion begins with emulsification by bile acids, followed by hydrolysis by pancreatic lipase. Absorbed fatty acids and monoglycerides are reassembled in enterocytes and transported in lipoproteins. In tissues, fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation to generate ATP, while some lipids serve as structural components of membranes or as signaling molecules (eicosanoids, steroid hormones).

Health and nutrition. Essential fatty acids cannot be synthesized by humans and must be obtained from the diet. Lipidek composition affects membrane properties and energy balance; excessive intake of saturated or trans fats is linked to cardiovascular disease, whereas unsaturated fats support health.