Posts Tagged ‘blood cholesterol’
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that most animal world and the largest from the standpoint of such metabolic precursors of steroid hormones.
This is a plant sterol that has two origin:
- An exogenous origin: Food
- Origin of endogenous biosynthesis. Liver is one of the main sites of synthesis.
Cholesterol is present in all cells. High levels can lead to gallstones or a risk factor for atherosclerosis.
This can take two forms:
- Free form that is not combined with other substances. Cholesterol is located on the surface of lipoprotein
- Esterified forms associated with fatty acid to form steroids. Low hydrophilic character that can exist in several forms and then completely removed.
- Cholesterol is an important component of our cells. This is a fundamental component of cell membranes: a significant portion of cholesterol is used for the formation of the plasma membrane fat layer. It also has a role in membrane fluidity.
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