key term - Lipid Metabolism

Definition

Lipid metabolism is the process by which fats are broken down and synthesized in the body to provide energy and form structural components of cells. It involves complex pathways that manage the digestion, absorption, transportation, and storage of dietary lipids.

Related terms

Fatty acids: These are the building blocks of fats that are either obtained from the diet or synthesized by the body for energy production and structural functions.

Lipogenesis:

This is the process of synthesizing fatty acids into triglycerides for storage in adipose tissue, essentially accumulating energy reserves.

Beta: oxidation - A metabolic process where fatty acids are broken down inside mitochondria to generate acetyl-CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle to produce energy