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Article: Blood Lipids
- Article from:
- Encyclopedia of Public Health
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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BLOOD LIPIDS
Lipids are fatty organic compounds or particles in the body that are poorly soluble in water and generally feel greasy to the touch. The most important lipids in the blood are fatty acids, cholesterol, cholesterol esters (cholesterol attached to a fatty acid), triglycerides (three fatty acids attached to a three-carbon glycerol), and phospholipids, such as lecithin.
Cholesterol esters and triglycerides are hydrophobic and do not dissolve in water. They are thus carried through the bloodstream in particles called lipoproteins
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complex particles with the less water-soluble cholesterol esters and triglycerides on the inside and the more water-soluble free cholesterol, ...