Season 1 Episode 1: Meet the Lipid Family

Welcome to Season 1 Episode 1 of LipidCurious — the podcast dedicated to demystifying lipids for medical boards and real-world clinical practice.  If you’ve ever looked at a lipid panel and felt unsure what it really means, this episode is your starting point. 

In this kickoff episode, we cover:

1. What are lipids? 

2. Their defining “superpowers.” 

3. How are lipids classified — and why that matters in clinic 

Whether you’re preparing for boards or managing complex patients, understanding the lipid family gives you a better grasp on diagnosis and treatment. This is foundational knowledge—built for real-world clinical practice. 

 Download the Free LipidCurious Starter Kit at www.lipidcurious.com

 Questions or feedback? Reach out at hello@lipidcurious.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is NOT medical advice.

Transcript

SEASON 1 EPISODE 1: MEET THE LIPID FAMILY

When we hear the word ‘lipids,’ we often think of fats, cholesterol — maybe just a bunch of numbers in red on a lab report. 

But the truth is, lipids aren’t just one thing. They’re a whole family — each with its own structure, function, and clinical impact. 

Some store energy. Some build cell membranes. Some deliver hormones. And some — well — they cause real trouble. 

Today, you’re going to meet them all. And once you do, everything from statins to omega-3s to metabolic risk will start to make a whole lot more sense.

Welcome to LipidCurious — the podcast dedicated to demystifying lipids for medical boards and real-world clinical practice.
I’m your host, Dr. Vishnu Priya Pulipati — a board-certified Endocrinologist and Lipidologist.

This is Season 1, Episode 1: Meet the Lipid Family.
Here’s what we’re covering in the next few minutes:

1. What are lipids?
2. Their defining “superpowers.”
3. How are lipids classified — and why that matters in clinic

If you’re just joining us — welcome!.
This season builds step by step, so if you want the full picture, I recommend starting here at Episode 1.
We’re laying the foundation so that everything that follows makes more clinical sense.

Quick reminder: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. And if you haven’t yet, grab your free LipidCurious Starter Kit — a quick, practical guide for busy clinicians like you — you can find it at www.lipidcurious.com. 

Alright — let’s get started.

What Are Lipids?

Lipids are a large group of carbon- and hydrogen-based molecules — also known as hydrocarbons. 

They’re found throughout nature and have been engineered in labs for applications such as drug delivery, gene therapy, and food science. 

Imbalances in lipid metabolism are associated with several significant health issues, including atherosclerosis, pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease, and others.

While often cast as supervillains, lipids are actually essential to life.

Because lipids help:

• Store energy
• Build and maintain cell membranes
• Help make steroid hormones like estrogen, testosterone
• Protect internal organs as fatty tissue 
• Insulate nerves as myelin sheaths
• Transport fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K
• Regulate inflammation and immune function
• Support bile acid production and lung surfactant function

The Three Superpowers of Lipids

How can one class of molecules do so much? It comes down to three defining traits — their “superpowers”: Lipids are

• Non-polar so they have no charge
• Hydrophobic, so they don’t mix with water.
• Soluble in organic solvents like alcohol and ether.

Because lipids don’t mix with water, they’re typically compartmentalized — stored as fat droplets in adipocytes or transported in the bloodstream inside lipoprotein particles.

But not all lipids behave the same. 

Some are “double agents,” aka amphipathic lipids. They have water-loving (hydrophilic) head and a water-fearing (hydrophobic) tail. Think of a lollipop: the candy part dissolves in water, the stick part doesn’t.

Why does that matter?

Let me give you two key examples where amphipathic lipids play a critical role.

Cell Membranes:  Phospholipids — which are amphipathic — are the main building blocks of cell membranes. Picture a sandwich: hydrophilic heads face the watery environments inside and outside the cell, while hydrophobic tails tuck inward, away from water. This bilayer forms a selective barrier — the backbone of every living cell.

Micelles:  In the gut, amphipathic bile salts form micelles — tiny spheres or bubbles that trap digested fats in their core. The bile salts surround the fatty center with their hydrophilic sides facing outward, keeping the micelle dissolved in the watery intestine, and their hydrophobic face tucked inward. This structure helps deliver fats to intestinal cells for absorption.

In short, lipids are everywhere — not just storing energy or clogging arteries, but building membranes, carrying hormones, and making life possible.

Now that we know what lipids are, why they matter, and what makes them unique, let’s talk about the different types.

Types of lipids

Back in the 1920s, biochemist Walter Bloor grouped lipids into three main types: simple, compound, and derived.
Believe it or not, that framework still holds up — with a few updates.
Understanding these categories gives you a better mental model for approaching abnormal lipid panels.

1. Simple Lipids
 These are esters of fatty acids and alcohols — basically, your body’s primary energy storage system. Includes:

• Fats and oils (a.k.a. triglycerides)
• Waxes

2. Compound Lipids
 These are esters of fatty acids and alcohols plus an additional group — like phosphate, sugar, or protein. They’re involved in structure and transport. 

Includes:

• Phospholipids – the backbone of cell membranes. Subtypes include: 
  • Glycerophospholipids (like lecithin in lung surfactant)
  • Sphingolipids (found in myelin sheaths of nerves)
• Glycolipids – involved in cell signaling, especially in the nervous system
• Lipoproteins – LDL, HDL, VLDL — the vehicles that move lipids through the bloodstream

3. Derived Lipids
 These are the building blocks or byproducts of simple and compound lipids. Includes:

• Fatty acids
• Cholesterol
• Steroid hormones
• Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)
• Ketone bodies

So when we say “lipid,” we’re not just talking about cholesterol or triglycerides.
 It could be any of these — each with its own role in health and disease.

Real-World Impact
Let’s zoom out for a second — what does all this actually change in clinical practice?
 Understanding lipid classification isn’t trivia — it’s a shortcut to clinical clarity.
 It helps you quickly recognize what kind of lipid you’re dealing with and why it matters.

Take simple lipids, like triglycerides. When triglycerides spike above 1000 mg/dL, it’s risk for pancreatitis.

Why? Because triglycerides travel through the blood in large compound lipids — specifically, chylomicrons. When chylomicrons build up, they clog pancreatic capillaries and activate lipases, releasing toxic free fatty acids that trigger inflammation.

When you understand the lipid’s structure and role, the clinical picture comes into focus.
 You interpret labs more precisely, spot red flags faster, and treat the underlying issue — not just chase a number.

So here’s what I want you to walk away with:

• Lipids are hydrocarbon-based molecules essential for energy, structure, and signaling.
• They have three “superpowers” — nonpolar, hydrophobic, and soluble in organic solvents — that shape their function. Some lipids are amphipathic, with both water-loving and water-fearing parts, key for forming micelles and membranes
• Lipids are classified into simple, compound, and derived types, each with unique roles in health and disease.

So now you’ve officially met the lipid family.
Next Episode: Triglycerides — how these energy-storing molecules can go from fuel source to clinical red flag.

Alright folks, thanks for joining me on LipidCurious.
I’d love to hear your feedback, suggestions — or even if you just want to connect.
You can reach me at hello@lipidcurious.com, and you’ll find my LinkedIn details on the website.
Explore the free Starter Kit and more at www.lipidcurious.com.
Be sure to subscribe or follow, so you don’t miss what’s next.

Until next time — stay curious, and stay confident.
Signing off, Dr. Pulipati.