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Fats

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Fats are molecules containing fatty acids as constituents. They include:

  • neutral fats - triglycerides: used as an energy store
  • brown fat in infants
  • structural fats:
    • phospholipids
    • glycolipids
    • sphingomyelins

Certain fats must be present within the diet because they contain fatty acids which cannot be produced by alternative pathways - the essential fatty acids. As well as crucial roles as a fuel and in cellular structure, fats are used to absorb fat soluble vitamins from the gut and as insulating material within the hypodermis.


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