Carbohydrates

Lipids are a diverse group of hydrophobic organic molecules, which include fats, oils, sterols, and waxes. Fatty acids are integral building blocks of lipids, and can be classified as unsaturated or saturated based on the presence/absence of carbon-carbon double bonds within their nonpolar chains. Eicosanoids are a family of cell-signaling molecules with important physiologic properties derived from the fatty acid, arachadonic acid. In addition, combining fatty acids with different bases, including glycerol, phosphate, and shingosine, results in different lipids with varied functions within the human body. Glycerolipids (triacylglycerols) are important for energy storage and thermal insulation. Glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids are essential constituents of cellular plasma membranes. Another group of lipids is based off of isoprenoids, which are the building blocks of sterols (such as cholesterol). Altered levels of lipids (both an overabundance or deficiency) can result in many potential disease processes.

Carbohydrates are one of the 3 macronutrients, along with fats and proteins, serving as a source of energy to the body. These biomolecules store energy in the form of glycogen and starch, and play a role in defining the cellular structure (e.g., cellulose). Carbohydrates can be broadly classified into simple and complex carbohydrates based on the number of sugar units and chemical bonds. Carbohydrates are the most abundant organic molecules in nature and are the structural basis of many organisms. These biomolecules have a carbon:water ratio of 1:1 and a general molecular formula that can be represented as Cn(H2O)n.