Metabolism of Lipids : Medical Biochemistry

Complete guide to lipid chemistry, fatty acid metabolism, cholesterol, lipoproteins, bile acids & clinical aspects

What you'll learn
- Explain the biochemical pathways of lipid metabolism including fatty acid oxidation, synthesis, ketogenesis, and cholesterol metabolism.
- Understand the regulation of lipid metabolism by hormones, enzymes, and energy balance under fed and fasting conditions.
- Interpret the biochemical basis of lipid-related disorders such as hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, and inborn errors of lipid metabolism.
- Apply knowledge of lipid metabolism to clinical case studies, nutrition, diagnostics, and therapeutic strategies.

Requirements
- No prior knowledge of biochemistry is required. A basic understanding of high school biology will be helpful but not mandatory.

Description
Lipids are fundamental biomolecules that play a central role inenergy production, membrane structure, signaling, and disease processes. This comprehensive course onMetabolism of Lipidsis designed formedical students, nursing students, pharmacists, biomedical scientists, and healthcare professionalswho want a clear and clinically integrated understanding of lipid biochemistry.

The course begins with thechemistry and classification of lipids, building the foundation for understanding their diverse structures and functions. We then move into the detailed study offatty acid metabolism— including fatty acid synthesis, β-oxidation of even, odd, branched, and very long-chain fatty acids, as well as their regulation and clinical disorders. Key processes such as themobilization of fatty acids, the carnitine shuttle, and ketone body metabolismare explained step by step, linking them directly with applied clinical conditions like hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, and metabolic diseases.

You will also explorecholesterol metabolism— from its biosynthesis and regulation to bile acid formation and cholesterol-related clinical aspects such as gallstones, atherosclerosis, and genetic disorders. The module onlipoproteins(chylomicrons, VLDL, LDL, HDL, and Lp(a)) integrates physiology with pathology, explaining their roles in cardiovascular disease and inherited lipid disorders.

Throughout the course, emphasis is placed onintegration of basic science with clinical practice, ensuring learners not only understand pathways but also recognize their relevance in patient care and global health.

By the end of this course, you will have mastered both thebiochemical foundation and the applied clinical aspectsof lipid metabolism — knowledge that is essential for success in medical education, healthcare practice, and lifelong learning.

Who this course is for:
- This course is ideal for medical, nursing, pharmacy, and life science students, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in understanding lipid metabolism and its clinical significance.
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