7. Conclusions

The perspectives of lipases in the food industry related to glycerides were very promising 10 years ago. Today, the market is wide and demanding for high-quality, “healthy” food products. The progress of the research on the value of “healthy” foods with the new findings in the roles of ω3, ω6 and ω9 fatty acids in health and disease are fueling this interest. The importance of structured glycerides as sources of fatty acids is of paramount importance, the metabolism of them being more and more elucidated. Among them, diglycerides seem competitive compared to triglycerides as sources if the processing aspects are improved, especially when high-temperature deodorization should be avoided. The glycerides including polyunsaturated (PUFA) or monounsaturated (MUFA) could be important tools in weight control and hypertension if their benefits are confirmed, but how, when and with what other compounds (such as antioxidants) should be properly clarified. In this sense, even monoglycerides obtained through enzymatic processes could have interesting markets, but the main problem of the high cost of the enzyme is still present as it has always been. Beyond food applications, the field of biolubricants and long alcohol esters of fatty acids could have importance in the renewed interest in lipases at the industrial level in the future.