What is the chemical composition of triglycerides?

Chemical composition. Triglycerides are the predominant component of most food fats and oils. The minor components include mono- and diglycerides, free fatty acids, phosphatides, sterols, fatty alcohols, fat-soluble vitamins, and other substances. A triglyceride is composed of glycerol and three fatty acids. read more

A triglyceride (TG, triacylglycerol, TAG, or triacylglyceride) is an ester derived from glycerol and three fatty acids (from tri-and glyceride). Triglycerides are the main constituents of body fat in humans and other animals, as well as vegetable fat. read more

4. Lipase digests the long-chain fatty acids and triglycerides. 5. Triglycerides are broken down and absorbed in the small intestine. read more

The types of triglycerides in animals vary with the species and the composition of fats in the food. Tristearin (tristearic acid) is an example of a triglyceride. It is made up of three chains of stearic acid attached to a molecule of glycerol. read more