NANP Board Practice Exam

The backbone compound of triglycerides is glycerol. Triglycerides are composed of one glycerol molecule and three fatty acid chains. Glycerol, a three-carbon alcohol, forms the structural foundation for the triglyceride molecule, allowing fatty acids to esterify to it and create the triglyceride structure. This formation is essential for the storage of fats in the body, enabling efficient energy storage and insulation.

Other compounds listed, such as glucose, lactose, and sucrose, are carbohydrates and do not have a role in triglyceride formation. Glucose is a simple sugar used primarily for energy and does not serve the structural role in triglycerides. Lactose is a disaccharide found in milk, and sucrose is common table sugar; both are also unrelated to the structure of triglycerides. Each of these options contributes to energy and metabolism in different ways, but only glycerol is the specific backbone for triglycerides.