Lipids are macromolecules that are insoluble in water. They are present in living organisms and also distributed in nature
Examples of lipids include
- Oils
- Fats
- Waxes
- Phospholipids
- Sphingolipids
- Steroids
Sl.No | Type of lipid | Lipid name | Source |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Oils | Peanut oil (arachis oil) | Peanut or ground nut |
2 | Sesame oil | Sesame seeds | |
3 | Olive oil | ||
4 | Fats | Butter | Dairy products |
5 | clarified butter | Dairy products | |
6 | Margarine | Vegetable oil + water | |
7 | Hydrogenated vegetable fat | Vegetable oil | |
8 | Eicosanoids | Prostaglandins | The cell membrane (arachidonic acid) |
9 | Leukotrenes | ||
10 | Thromboxane | Cell membrane | |
11 | Steroid | Cholesterol | Synthesizied in the body. |
12 | Ergosterol | plants, yeast | |
13 | Butter | Milk | |
14 | Galactosylceramide | brain |
Lipids are one of 4 significant macromolecules (organic compounds) of our body.
They are taken from external sources like food and edible oils.
But, some of them are made in the body from excess carbohydrates.
Many types of lipids vary in structure, properties, and functions in the body.
They are insoluble in water and hence called hydrophobic.
Types of Lipids
Lipids are of two types as
- Simple lipids
- Compound lipid.
Simple lipids
These are the ones that are ester of fatty acid and alcohol. They are again of three types as
a) Neutral fats (glycerides)
- They have an ester of fatty acid and glycerol.
- They tend to accumulate in our bodies and contribute to weight gain.
- At room temperature, they are solid in nature.
Example: Butter
b) Oils
- Like fats they are also ester of fattyacid and glycerol but are liquids at room temperature.
Ex: all edible oils
c) Waxes
- These are also esters but have fatty acids linked with non-glycerol alcohol.
- This alcohol is a high molecular weight monohydric alcohol.
Ex: Bee wax.
- The fats are stored in the body and are used in times of starvation.
These are of different types based on the fatty acid in them.
Fatty acid Structure
- Lipids are chemically the esters of long-chain fatty acids with alcohols.
- They have the following formula.
HOOC-(CH)2-CH3 fatty acids

These fatty acids are obtained from plants, animals (meat), and even minerals.
Compound lipids
- These have complex chemistry with cyclic structures or multiple functional groups.
- They are mostly involved in the formation of membranes of the body cells.
They are of different types like
- Phospholipids
- Sphingolipids
- Steroids
Phospholipids
- They have phosphate groups in their chemical structure.
- The phosphate moiety determines the water permeable nature of the membrane it forms.
- These phospholipids are mostly present in the cell membranes.
In general, a cell or plasma membrane has double layers of phospholipids, as shown in the image below.

Sphingolipids
- These lipids have amine and other functional groups in their chemistry.
- Sphingomyelin is a part of the nerve cell membrane.

Steroidal lipids.
- These lipids are formed inside the body and sometimes are taken from external sources.
- They have a cyclic ring-like structure in their chemistry, due to which they are called steroids.
- These steroids, like cholesterol, are chemical constituents of the cell membrane.

Frequently asked questions and answers
-
Which lipid acts as a chemical messenger
Lipids like prostaglandins, leukotrenes, hormone based lipids like the testosterone, estrogen act as chemical messengers.
-
Where is most of a healthy person’s fat stored
Fat in a healthy person is stored below the skin and mostly concentrated in the bums, soles, palms.
-
What are the two main parts of a lipid molecule
A fatty acid and alcohol.
-
What are the building blocks of fats and oils
Aliphatic Acids and alcohols act as building blocks of fats and oils.