| Lipid storage disorder | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Endocrinology  |
A lipid storage disorder (or lipidosis) is any one of a group of inherited metabolic disorders in which harmful amounts of fats or lipids accumulate in some body cells and tissues.[1] People with these disorders either do not produce enough of one of the enzymes needed to metabolize and break down lipids or, they produce enzymes that do not work properly. Over time, the buildup of fats may cause permanent cellular and tissue damage, particularly in the brain, peripheral nervous system, liver, spleen, and bone marrow.
Inside cells under normal conditions, lysosomes convert, or metabolize, lipids and proteins into smaller components to provide energy for the body.
- ^ "Lipid Storage Diseases Fact Sheet". National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. January 13, 2015. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2005.