Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesWhat They DoRisksLipid Panel TestsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
What They Do
Risks
Lipid Panel Tests
Frequently Asked Questions
Lipids are fatty, waxy, or oily compounds that are essential to many body functions and serve as the building blocks for all living cells. Lipids help regulate hormones, transmit nerve impulses, cushion organs, and store energy in the form ofbody fat.
The three main types of lipids are phospholipids, sterols (including the different types ofcholesterol), andtriglycerides(which account for over 95% of lipids in food). Lipids are found in higher quantities in fried foods, animal fats, and dairy products like cream, butter, and cheese.
Though lipids are important to your health, consuming excessive amounts in food can lead to diseases likeatherosclerosis(“hardening of the arteries”),hypertension(high blood pressure), andcoronary artery disease.
This article describes the three main types of lipids and what each of them do. It also explains what happens whenblood lipids are highand how healthcare providers can measure this with a lipid panel test.
Cholesterol & Triglycerides: What You Need to Know
Types of Lipids and Where They Are Found
The three main types of lipids are phospholipids, sterols, and triacylglycerols (also known as triglycerides).
Phospholipids
Phospholipidsmake up the outer layer of cells in the bodies of animals and humans. They create a protective layer around the cells.
Most people do not have to worry about phospholipids. However, they can cause problems for people with a rareautoimmune disordercalled antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). APS often happens in people withlupus—especially women.
A common name for APS is “sticky blood.” That’s a good description of what happens inside the body when these key lipids cannot do their jobs.
In people with APS, the proteins on phospholipids get attacked, and the protective layers are damaged. As APS attacks blood cells and vessels, it increases a person’s risk for blood clots that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.APS also may lead to pregnancy complications.
Understanding Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Sterols
Sterols are a kind of steroid. Steroids are a group of hormones the body makes using lipids.
You might have heard aboutplant sterolsor phytosterols. These substances are found in foods and offer many health benefits.Phytosterolsare similar to the main sterol in humans, calledcholesterol.
Most of your body’s cholesterol is produced in the liver and the intestines, and about 20% comes from our diet. Cholesterol is found in every cell in the body and takes part in many important body functions, like making hormones and vitamin D.Cholesterol is also key for makingbile salts, the substances that help the body break down fat and absorb vitamins.
HDL is called “good” cholesterol because it absorbs cholesterol and brings it back to the liver. LDL is called “bad” cholesterol because it can build up in the blood vessels.
Here’s What You Need To Know About LDL Cholesterol
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are the most common type of lipid in our body and come from fats and oils in our diet. Triglycerides are important because they give us energy.
The lipids we consume in our diet can besaturated or unsaturatedfats. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and are typically derived from animal products such as meat, butter, and cheese. Unsaturated fats are usually liquid at room temperature and are often, but not always, derived from plants.
While “lipids” and “fat” are sometimes used interchangeably, fat (a.k.a. fatty acids) is only one type of lipid.
Unsaturated fats have essentialnutrients commonly knowns asomega-3 fatty acidsand are found in foods like tuna, salmon, nuts, seeds, avocados, and leafy vegetables.These unsaturated fatty acids can help reduce inflammation, blood pressure, and triglyceridesin the body. They also lower the risk ofsudden deathfrom a heart attack and prevent blood clots from forming.
Trans fats, or “partially hydrogenated oils,” are artificially made to have a certain texture desired for processed foods. They also increase the shelf life of baked goods. Eating foods that contain trans fats can lead to high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and can lower your HDL (good) cholesterol.
So, what foods raise triglyceride levels? Actually, it is all of those extra calories we consume from food and drinks, especially from alcohol and carbohydrates, that end up stored in the form of triglycerides in our fat (adipose) tissue.Over time, if you aren’t burning those extra calories, you can develop high triglycerides and excess fat storage that leads to various metabolic conditions such as obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and even acute pancreatitis.
Role of Lipids in the Body
Lipids have a range of functions, including:
Nervous System
Lipids are a very important part of your nervous system. One place you’ll find lipids is in the fatty tissue sleeves that protect your nerve cells and increase the conduction of their impulses (myelin sheaths).
Vitamin Absorption
Lipids make it possible for the body to use vitamins.Lipids also help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Here are just a few reasons why your body needs these vitamins:
Fat-Soluble vs. Water-Soluble Vitamins
Hormone Production
Lipids are needed for the production of certain hormones, includingestrogen,testosterone, andcortisol.Here are a few important jobs that hormones have:
Risks Associated With High Lipids
Lipids are essential for your health. However, having too many of them can put you at a higher risk of medical conditions likeliver diseaseand heart disease.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of deathin the United States.The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 17.9 million people worldwide die from cardiovascular disease each year.
A buildup of LDL cholesterol canclog the arteries(atherosclerosis). These ‘clogs’ can narrow the opening of the artery and lead to a heart attack or stroke. High LDL levels are linked to diets rich in saturated fats, such as fatty or processed meats, cream-based sauces, cheese, deep-fried foods, and processed foods.
Diet for Managing High Cholesterol
Your healthcare provider may want you to have alipid panel testas part of your routine annual physical. They might also want you to have the test if you are at risk for cardiovascular disease.
A lipid panel is also called a cholesterol test. It uses a blood sample to determine your total cholesterol levels (overall), LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. From these values, the lab will calculate your cholesterolratio.
Jessica Olah / Verywell
The results of your cholesterol test can help your provider determine your risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack or stroke.
What Your Lipid Panel Test Results Mean
Summary
The three types of lipids—phospholipids, sterols, and triglycerides—are needed for many essential functions in the body. They also offer many health benefits.
Triglycerides and cholesterol may pose health risks if your levels are too high. The foods that you eat can increase your “bad” LDL cholesterol, lower your “good” HDL cholesterol, and raise your triglycerides, which can lead to health consequences.
A Word From Verywell
If you’re concerned about your lipid levels, talk to your healthcare provider. A lipid panel test will give you the information that you need to begin making lifestyle changes, like getting more exercise and changing your diet, to help lower your levels.
When you’re looking at the results of your cholesterol test, remember that not all lipids are created equal. High levels of LDL pose a serious risk to your health, but higher levels of HDL can help get your cholesterol under control.
Cosmetics and skincare manufacturers add lipids to products to improve skin moisturization, protection, and repair.Lipids are added to some drugs to make their effects last longer, improve how the drug is absorbed, or help the drug target a specific area of the body.
Cholesterol Ratio: What It Means for Your Heart Health
23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Muro E, Atilla-Gokcumen GE, Eggert US.Lipids in cell biology: How can we understand them better?Bement W, ed.MBoC. 2014;25(12):1819-1823. doi:10.1091%2Fmbc.E13-09-0516National Organization for Rare Disorders.Antiphospholipid syndrome.National Institutes of Health, Genetics and Rare Diseases Information Center.Antiphospholipid syndrome.Cleveland Clinic.Phytosterols.Harvard Health Publishing.How it’s made: Cholesterol production in your body.Macierzanka A, Torcello-Gómez A, Jungnickel C, Maldonado-Valderrama J.Bile salts in digestion and transport of lipids.Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. 2019;274:102045. doi:10.1016/j.cis.2019.102045Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.Cleveland Clinic.Triglycerides.MedlinePlus.Dietary fats explained.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Choose healthy fats.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 fatty acids: Fact sheet for consumers.American Heart Association.Trans fats.Yuan G, Al-Shali KZ, Hegele RA.Hypertriglyceridemia: Its etiology, effects and treatment.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2007;176(8):1113-1120. doi:10.1503%2Fcmaj.060963National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A: Fact sheet for consumers.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin D.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin E: Fact sheet for consumers.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin K: Fact sheet for consumers.Cleveland Clinic.Hormones.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart disease.World Health Organization.Cardiovascular diseases.Lab Tests Online.Lipid panel.Ahmad A, Ahsan H.Lipid-based formulations in cosmeceuticals and biopharmaceuticals.Biomed Derm. 2020;4(1):12. doi:10.1186/s41702-020-00062-9Zaro JL.Lipid-based drug carriers for prodrugs to enhance drug delivery.AAPS J. 2014;17(1):83-92. doi:10.1208/s12248-014-9670-zAdditional ReadingBiochemistry of Lipids, Lipoproteins and Membranes. Elsevier; 2016. doi:10.1016/C2013-0-18457-7
23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Muro E, Atilla-Gokcumen GE, Eggert US.Lipids in cell biology: How can we understand them better?Bement W, ed.MBoC. 2014;25(12):1819-1823. doi:10.1091%2Fmbc.E13-09-0516National Organization for Rare Disorders.Antiphospholipid syndrome.National Institutes of Health, Genetics and Rare Diseases Information Center.Antiphospholipid syndrome.Cleveland Clinic.Phytosterols.Harvard Health Publishing.How it’s made: Cholesterol production in your body.Macierzanka A, Torcello-Gómez A, Jungnickel C, Maldonado-Valderrama J.Bile salts in digestion and transport of lipids.Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. 2019;274:102045. doi:10.1016/j.cis.2019.102045Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.Cleveland Clinic.Triglycerides.MedlinePlus.Dietary fats explained.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Choose healthy fats.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 fatty acids: Fact sheet for consumers.American Heart Association.Trans fats.Yuan G, Al-Shali KZ, Hegele RA.Hypertriglyceridemia: Its etiology, effects and treatment.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2007;176(8):1113-1120. doi:10.1503%2Fcmaj.060963National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A: Fact sheet for consumers.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin D.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin E: Fact sheet for consumers.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin K: Fact sheet for consumers.Cleveland Clinic.Hormones.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart disease.World Health Organization.Cardiovascular diseases.Lab Tests Online.Lipid panel.Ahmad A, Ahsan H.Lipid-based formulations in cosmeceuticals and biopharmaceuticals.Biomed Derm. 2020;4(1):12. doi:10.1186/s41702-020-00062-9Zaro JL.Lipid-based drug carriers for prodrugs to enhance drug delivery.AAPS J. 2014;17(1):83-92. doi:10.1208/s12248-014-9670-zAdditional ReadingBiochemistry of Lipids, Lipoproteins and Membranes. Elsevier; 2016. doi:10.1016/C2013-0-18457-7
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Muro E, Atilla-Gokcumen GE, Eggert US.Lipids in cell biology: How can we understand them better?Bement W, ed.MBoC. 2014;25(12):1819-1823. doi:10.1091%2Fmbc.E13-09-0516National Organization for Rare Disorders.Antiphospholipid syndrome.National Institutes of Health, Genetics and Rare Diseases Information Center.Antiphospholipid syndrome.Cleveland Clinic.Phytosterols.Harvard Health Publishing.How it’s made: Cholesterol production in your body.Macierzanka A, Torcello-Gómez A, Jungnickel C, Maldonado-Valderrama J.Bile salts in digestion and transport of lipids.Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. 2019;274:102045. doi:10.1016/j.cis.2019.102045Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.Cleveland Clinic.Triglycerides.MedlinePlus.Dietary fats explained.Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Choose healthy fats.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 fatty acids: Fact sheet for consumers.American Heart Association.Trans fats.Yuan G, Al-Shali KZ, Hegele RA.Hypertriglyceridemia: Its etiology, effects and treatment.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2007;176(8):1113-1120. doi:10.1503%2Fcmaj.060963National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A: Fact sheet for consumers.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin D.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin E: Fact sheet for consumers.National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin K: Fact sheet for consumers.Cleveland Clinic.Hormones.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart disease.World Health Organization.Cardiovascular diseases.Lab Tests Online.Lipid panel.Ahmad A, Ahsan H.Lipid-based formulations in cosmeceuticals and biopharmaceuticals.Biomed Derm. 2020;4(1):12. doi:10.1186/s41702-020-00062-9Zaro JL.Lipid-based drug carriers for prodrugs to enhance drug delivery.AAPS J. 2014;17(1):83-92. doi:10.1208/s12248-014-9670-z
Muro E, Atilla-Gokcumen GE, Eggert US.Lipids in cell biology: How can we understand them better?Bement W, ed.MBoC. 2014;25(12):1819-1823. doi:10.1091%2Fmbc.E13-09-0516
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Antiphospholipid syndrome.
National Institutes of Health, Genetics and Rare Diseases Information Center.Antiphospholipid syndrome.
Cleveland Clinic.Phytosterols.
Harvard Health Publishing.How it’s made: Cholesterol production in your body.
Macierzanka A, Torcello-Gómez A, Jungnickel C, Maldonado-Valderrama J.Bile salts in digestion and transport of lipids.Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. 2019;274:102045. doi:10.1016/j.cis.2019.102045
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Cleveland Clinic.Triglycerides.
MedlinePlus.Dietary fats explained.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Choose healthy fats.
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 fatty acids: Fact sheet for consumers.
American Heart Association.Trans fats.
Yuan G, Al-Shali KZ, Hegele RA.Hypertriglyceridemia: Its etiology, effects and treatment.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2007;176(8):1113-1120. doi:10.1503%2Fcmaj.060963
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A: Fact sheet for consumers.
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin D.
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin E: Fact sheet for consumers.
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin K: Fact sheet for consumers.
Cleveland Clinic.Hormones.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Heart disease.
World Health Organization.Cardiovascular diseases.
Lab Tests Online.Lipid panel.
Ahmad A, Ahsan H.Lipid-based formulations in cosmeceuticals and biopharmaceuticals.Biomed Derm. 2020;4(1):12. doi:10.1186/s41702-020-00062-9
Zaro JL.Lipid-based drug carriers for prodrugs to enhance drug delivery.AAPS J. 2014;17(1):83-92. doi:10.1208/s12248-014-9670-z
Biochemistry of Lipids, Lipoproteins and Membranes. Elsevier; 2016. doi:10.1016/C2013-0-18457-7
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