Function of fats in the body:
Fats perform a wide range of activities in the body that are vital and necessary for the body’s survival:
1- They are the body’s most important energy reserve for times when the body does not have access to food.
2- It helps maintain body heat and supports every organ that surrounds it.
3- It plays an important role in the structure of cell membranes.
4- It acts as a cellular messenger and plays an important role in growth, inflammation, immunity, regulation of metabolism, blood pressure and reproduction. Only some fats are produced in the body and many of them must be obtained from food, which are called essential fatty acids. The essential fatty acids that are primarily needed by the body are alpha-linoleic acid and linoleic acid. Both of these are called omega fatty acids, or short-chain unsaturated fats . These fatty acids are obtained from foods such as broad-leaf vegetables, pumpkin, sunflower seed oil, vegetable oils, walnut oil and fish oil. Lipoproteins: They are a combination of fat and protein, and this combination enables lipids to move throughout the body. Proteins improve the solubility of fats and actually emulsify them. These are actually the same molecules known as HDL and LDL . Lipoproteins are classified based on the ratio of protein to fat in their molecular structure (ultramicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL, HDL).
The main function of lipoproteins is to help move fats through the bloodstream. In addition, they form a major part of cell membranes and, as cell membranes, play a role in regulating the water content of the cell and also intracellular elements. The largest lipoproteins are microcarriers, composed mainly of triglycerides. These lipoproteins help transport fats from food from the intestines to various organs such as the liver, adipose tissue, and muscles.
VLDL: Produced by the liver and composed of triglycerides, cholesterol, and apolipoproteins , this substance transports fats produced in the body to peripheral tissues.
LDL: It is rich in cholesterol and is made from VLDL . The main function of LDL is to transport cholesterol from the liver to other parts of the body. LDL is known as bad cholesterol because it enters the walls of blood vessels and deposits cholesterol, thus increasing the risk of vascular plaque formation.
HDL: Known as protective lipoprotein, it returns deposited fats in the body to the liver for further processing and therefore returns cholesterol from atherosclerotic plaques to the liver, which is why HDL is called good cholesterol.
Triglycerides:
Triglycerides can be derived from animal or vegetable fats and are classified into two groups: saturated and unsaturated. The unsaturated forms are usually liquid and have a lower melting point, while the saturated types are usually more solid and have a higher melting point.
Factors affecting blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body:
1-Diet is an important and major factor for blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
A diet high in saturated fatty acids raises blood cholesterol, and diets high in carbohydrates raise triglycerides.
2- Exercise. Regular exercise helps reduce blood cholesterol and increase HDL , while a sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise leads to obesity and increased blood cholesterol.
3- Heredity: It plays a role in blood cholesterol levels and the susceptibility to obesity.
4- Age: As you age, the likelihood of high blood cholesterol increases, firstly due to becoming less active as you age, and secondly due to certain stages of life, such as menopause in women.
5- Stress: Increased mental and nervous pressure and mental and physical stress can lead to changes in the lipid profile. In addition to the risk factors mentioned, some systemic diseases such as diabetes, insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, metabolic syndrome, liver and kidney problems, and some medications such as diuretics and beta-blockers increase the risk of developing blood lipid disorders.
Metabolic syndrome is a group of concurrent problems that increase the risk of developing cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Metabolic syndrome is often characterized by central obesity, high blood pressure, lipid profile abnormalities, and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body’s cells do not respond appropriately to insulin, and this condition is often associated with diseases such as blood lipid disorders, increased blood coagulability, and vascular inflammation. Insulin resistance in fat cells increases the breakdown of fats in adipose tissue and increases the level of free fatty acids in the blood. On the other hand, insulin resistance reduces the clearance of VLDL from the bloodstream , which converts the circulating VLDL into LDL and other lipoproteins that remain inside the vessels. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) also prevents the breakdown of LDL and increases blood cholesterol levels.
Increased blood lipids (including cholesterol and triglycerides)
increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular accidents. On the other hand, the formation of fatty plaques in peripheral arteries can reduce blood flow to the limbs, causing symptoms such as limping when walking or leg pain following rapid and prolonged activity.
What are the ways to detect the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in people?
1-Blood tests that diagnose high cholesterol and high triglycerides.
2- Measuring blood sugar levels (high blood sugar increases the risk of developing plaques).
3- Stress test or exercise test: The person is asked to run on a treadmill and their electrocardiogram is recorded at the same time.
4- Sindh photo to check for possible abnormalities
5 – Electrocardiogram (a tape of the heart’s electrical activity)
6 – Echocardiography
CT SCAN – 7
8- Angiography: In this method, by injecting a dye into the artery, its flow in the blood can be examined with X- rays, and wherever the flow of this substance in the vessel is disrupted, the presence of an atheroma plaque can be detected in that area.
Treatment of lipid disorders:
By adjusting lifestyle and diet, the risk factors causing this condition can be largely eliminated, and if the blood lipid profile cannot be controlled and maintained in a normal state through diet and exercise alone, medication is recommended.
