The first edition of this textbook was published in 1985. However, research in the biochemistry and molecular biology of lipids and lipoproteins has experienced a remarkable rebirth within the past few years with the realization that lipids play important roles not only in membrane structure and the functioning of membrane proteins, but also in diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, stroke, cancer and neurological diseases. In addition, lipids are known to participate widely in signaling pathways which impact on all basic biological processes. We have therefore assembled the fourth edition of this textbook by taking account of these major advances in these fields..