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Triglycerides are esters in which three molecules of one or more different fatty acids are linked to the alcohol glycerol; they are named after the fatty acid components; tristearin, for example, contains three molecules of stearic acid, whereas oleo distearin contains one molecule of oleic acid and two molecules of stearic acid.
Three long-chain carboxylic acids, sometimes known as fatty acids, can react with three alcohol groups. When only one ester bond is formed, monoglycerides or monoacylglycerols are formed. When two carboxylic acid molecules react to form two ester linkages, a diglyceride or diacylglycerol is formed. When three carboxylic acids react to produce three ester linkages, a triglyceride or triacylglycerol is formed.
Structure of Triglycerides
Tissues can metabolise fatty acids for energy or store them as triglycerides as an energy reserve. In response to energy demands, the stored triglycerides are digested, and the unsaturated fatty acids are released into the circulation for transport to tissues.
Triglyceride Hydrolysis
Triglycerides (fats) can be hydrolyzed to create glycerol and three fatty acids in the presence of acid and heat, or under biological circumstances. Triglyceride hydrolysis can also be done using a base, which is the most commonly utilised approach on a wide scale. Saponification is a one-step reaction that produces soap by combining simultaneous hydrolysis and neutralisation.
Triglyceride Chemical Composition
A triglyceride is formed when the three hydroxyl groups (OH-) of a single glycerol molecule combine with the carboxyl groups (COOH-) of three fatty acids to form ester linkages.
Different triglycerides may or may not have the same three fatty acids that make up the triglyceride structure, resulting in a vast range of possibilities. Triglyceride fatty acid chains can be any length, although the most common are 16, 18, and 20 carbons.
The Function of Triglycerides in the Human Body
The national recommendations for fasting triglyceride levels in healthy persons are as follows:
- A blood sugar level of less than 150 mg/dl is considered normal.
- A blood sugar level of 151–200 mg/dl is regarded as borderline high.
- a blood concentration of 201–499 mg/dl (high)
- A blood sugar level of 500 mg/dl or higher is considered extremely high.
Triglycerides are used in the body to supply energy to cells that require it. They are found in fat deposits and are a naturally occurring component of the blood. Excess triglycerides, on the other hand, can cause health problems and even death in the body.
High triglyceride levels have been associated with metabolic syndrome, a group of ailments that increases the risk of diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. More than 200 mg/dL in the blood has been related to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and mortality.
Conclusion
A triglyceride is a glyceride made up of a single molecule of glycerol that has been esterified with three fatty acids. Vegetable oils and animal fats are the most common sources.
The general chemical formula of triglyceride is
R2COO−CH2CH(−OOCR1)CH2−OOCR3
Where R1, R2, and R3 are fatty acids. These three fatty acids can be the same or different.
