LIFE 102 Lecture Notes - Adipose Tissue, Cardiovascular Disease, Adipocyte
Document Summary
A diet rich in saturated fats may contribute to cardiovascular disease through plaque deposits. Hydrogenation is the process of converting unsaturated fats to saturated fats by adding hydrogen. Hydrogenating vegetable oils also creates unsaturated fats with trans double bonds. These trans fats may contribute more than saturated fats to cardiovascular disease. The major function of fats is energy storage. Humans and other mammals store their fat in adipose cells. Adipose tissue also cushions vital organs and insulates the body. When phospholipids are added to water, they self-assemble into a bilayer, with the hydrophobic tails pointing toward the interior. The structure of phospholipids results in a bilayer arrangement found in cell membranes. Phospholipids are the major component of all cell membranes. Steroids are lipids characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four fused rings. Cholesterol, an important steroid, is a component in animal cell membranes. Although cholesterol is essential in animals, high levels in the blood may contribute to cardiovascular disease.
