Triglütseriidides

Triglütseriidides, commonly known as triglycerides in English, are a class of lipids that serve as the body's main form of energy storage. Each molecule consists of glycerol esterified with three fatty acids; the fatty acids vary in length and degree of saturation, giving triglyceride molecules a range of physical properties.

Triglycerides are stored in adipose tissue as large lipid droplets and are insoluble in water. They function as a dense energy reserve that can be mobilized when energy is needed. Dietary triglycerides come from fats and oils in foods and are also synthesized by the body.

Digestion begins in the intestine, where bile acids emulsify fats and pancreatic lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides into free fatty acids and monoglycerides. These products are absorbed by enterocytes, re-esterified into triglycerides, and packaged with cholesterol and apolipoproteins into chylomicrons for transport through the lymphatic system and into the bloodstream.

In circulation, lipoprotein lipase acts on circulating lipoproteins to release fatty acids for use by tissues or storage in adipose tissue. The liver can also synthesize triglycerides and export them as very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). Excess triglycerides in the blood are associated with metabolic disorders and increased risk of pancreatitis and cardiovascular disease, especially when accompanied by insulin resistance or other lipid abnormalities.

Triglycerides are a major focus of metabolic research and clinical lipid panels, reflecting dietary intake, energy balance, and overall metabolic health.