Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 14 : Lipids

Sterols/Cholesterol

Cholesterol, is the precursor of the bile acids and the sex hormones. It is manufactured in all tissues of the body except the brain. Cholesterol is present in almost all cells and its concentration is particularly high in the liver, brain and nervous tissue, and the blood. Cholesterol, like lecithin is also present in foods, egg yolk, meats, and other animal fats, milk products. It is not present in vegetable foods.

A transport mechanism of cholesterol called the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the likely cause of risk for the cardiovascular disease called atherosclerosis. In this condition, cholesterol in the form of LDL cholesterol accumulates in the inner living of the arteries thereby obstructing free flow of blood. This LDL is a contrast to the so-called “good” cholesterol-carrying high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The ratio of these two (LDL:HDL) is the blood test currently favored to evaluate our risk of cardiovascular disease.