What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of lipid that is found in the cell membranes
of all body tissues of animals, including humans.
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- It is not a type of fat, rather a soft, waxy substance.
- It originates from two major sources: dietary intake and liver
production.
- Dietary cholesterol
mainly comes from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products.
- The liver produces approximately 1,500 to 2,000 milligrams
of cholesterol everyday
Functions
Contrary to its notoriety, cholesterol is, in fact, good for
the body as it is required for a number of essential functions.
However, the necessary amount needed is very low.
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- Cholesterol provides stability to the cell membranes by maintaining
fluidity over temperature intervals.
- It is also used in the body to provide the myelin lining to
nerve fibers.
Cholesterol is a major precursor for the synthesis of:
- Vitamin D
- Various steroid hormones including cortisol, cortisone, and
aldosterone
- Sex hormones such as progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone
- Bile acids (These are essential for the absorption of fat from
the contents of the intestine)
Cholesterol is excreted from the liver in bile and reabsorbed
from the intestines. The word ‘cholesterol’ originates
from the Greek chole (bile) and stereos (solid), as researchers
first identified cholesterol in solid form in gallstones.
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