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lipophilic

lipophilic

1 8.6
Able to dissolve in fats and oils
  • adjective
  • /ˌlaɪpəˈfɪlɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lipofílico
  • Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a lipophilic compound, is naturally found throughout the body, including the heart, liver, and skeletal muscle.
  • lipophilic compound
  • lipophilic contaminants
  • lipophilic PCBs

Recall that cannabis and THC and CBD are incredibly lipophilic.

Examples

  • Interestingly, orlistat does not seem to interact with lipophilic drugs such as fluoxetine and simvastatin.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Certain lipophilic medications are more effective when combined with fatty foods.

  • Many of the pollutants are lipophilic, or fat-loving:

    Academic text (2012)
  • Lipophilic properties or an active transport mechanism could be responsible for good tissue penetration.

    Academic text (2000)
  • For all animals, persistent organic contaminants are lipophilic (tending to associate with lipids) and accumulate in body fat.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Their orientation provides more stability to the cellular membrane because of their lipophilic hydrocarbon chain inside the lipid bilayer, and their hydrophilic hydroxyl groups emerge both within and outside the cell.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Many harmful chemicals are lipophilic, meaning they tend to dissolve in fats rather than water.

  • Substances that are lipophilic can easily pass through cell membranes, which are composed of lipid layers.

Synonyms

fat-soluble
vslipophilic
  • Specialized
1 4.2

Able to dissolve in fat or oil rather than water

refers to affinity for lipids rather than only solubility in fats
oil-soluble
vslipophilic
  • Specialized
1 5.8

Able to mix with oil rather than with water

covers general affinity for lipids, not just dissolving in oil
oleophilic
vslipophilic
  • Specialized
9.9

Attracting and holding oil rather than water

emphasizes affinity or absorption rather than specifically dissolving in fats

How Lipid-Soluble

lipophilic
  • Specialized
1 8.6
hydrophilic
  • Specialized
1 6.5

Surface Forms

lipophilic positive

Morphology

lipophilic = lipid (semi-transparent) = lipo + philic

The form literally combines 'lipo-' (fat) with the scientific combining suffix '-philic' (having an affinity for), but these are specialised combining forms that many learners do not know.

Etymology

Lipophilic comes from Greek parts lipo- meaning 'fat' and -philic meaning 'loving'. It literally means 'fat-loving', so a lipophilic substance likes fats and can mix with or stay in fatty tissue, which is why some vitamins and drugs collect in body fat and can pass through cell membranes.