Lipids are essential components of all cell membranes and are important energy storage and signalling molecules. Lipid metabolism involves the synthesis, breakdown, and transport of lipids in various tissues, ensuring a balance between lipid uptake and utilization. Lipid metabolism begins with fat digestion in the small intestine. Bile salts act as fat emulsifiers, breaking down large fat globules into much smaller droplets, with pancreatic lipase the primary enzyme responsible for breaking down fats in the small intestine. To facilitate absorption, monoglycerides and fatty acids combine with bile salts and other lipid digestion products to form micelles allowing monoglycerides and fatty acids to be transported into the enterocytes lining the small intestine. Absorbed fatty acids and glycerol are then reassembled into triglycerides for packaging into large lipoprotein particles (chylomicrons) that transport dietary lipids through the lymphatic system for release into the bloodstream. In the circulation, chylomicrons interact with lipoprotein lipase on the blood vessels of adipose tissue and muscle, releasing free fatty acids for uptake by adipose tissue for storage or by muscle cells for energy utilization. As a result, lipid metabolism plays a crucial role in overall energy balance and body weight regulation. The liver is responsible for most de novo lipid synthesis, including that of triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids. Fatty acids synthesized in the liver can be used for energy production, converted into ketone bodies during periods of fasting or low carbohydrate intake, or stored as triglycerides in lipid droplets. Cholesterol, another crucial lipid, is also synthesized in the liver and plays vital roles in cell membrane structure, hormone synthesis, and bile acid production. Lipids are transported in the bloodstream as lipoprotein particles, which consist of a core of hydrophobic lipids (such as cholesterol and triglycerides) surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer and apolipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) delivers cholesterol to peripheral tissues, whilst high-density lipoprotein (HDL) removes excess cholesterol from tissues and transports it to the liver for excretion. In cells, lipids undergo further metabolic processes. In adipose tissue, triglycerides are stored as energy reserves in specialized lipid droplets. When energy demands increase, lipolysis is initiated, releasing fatty acids and glycerol back into the bloodstream. These fatty acids can then be taken up by other tissues, such as muscle cells, to be used as an energy source through beta-oxidation in mitochondria. Here, fatty acids undergo a series of sequential reactions, removing two-carbon acetyl groups at a time, which then enter the citric acid cycle (TCA cycle) to produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Cholesterol metabolism is also a vital aspect of lipid metabolism. Cholesterol is a key component of cell membranes and is essential for the synthesis of steroid hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D. The liver also plays a crucial role in cholesterol homeostasis, both synthesizing cholesterol and removing excess cholesterol from the bloodstream. The enzyme HMG-CoA reductase regulates cholesterol synthesis, and statins, a class of drugs, inhibit it to reduce cholesterol levels. Imbalances in lipid metabolism can lead to various metabolic disorders and health conditions including dyslipidaemia, and obesity. We provide a wide product range of research reagents for studying lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, including CD36 antibodies, Adiponectin antibodies, Cytochrome C antibodies, Adiponectin ELISA Kits, and Apolipoprotein A I ELISA Kits. Explore our full lipid and lipoprotein metabolism product range below and discover more, for less. Alternatively, you can explore our Lipid Metabolism, Cholesterol Metabolism, and Fatty Acids product ranges.