Tripalmitin is a triacylglycerol found in dietary fats. Tripalmitin increases body weight and plasma LDL levels and reduces hepatic LDL receptor mRNA levels in hamsters fed a diet enriched with it. It inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and reduces viability of INS1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Formulations containing tripalmitin are used in cosmetic products to condition skin and as a thickening agent. It is also used to form the lipid matrices of nanoparticles for drug delivery.