Cholesterol can be linked to many diseases, but what most people don’t know is that cholesterol is actually essential for all animal life to exist. Without it, all animals, including humans, would cease to exist. Without a sufficient amount of cholesterol in the formation of an animal, birth defects occur because the fetus did not have enough cholesterol to function normally. There is actually “healthy” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol. The “healthy” cholesterol is the approximate 1,000 mg the body needs to function, whether it be produced by the body itself or consumed through the diet. The “bad” cholesterol is all the excess that is ingested through the diet that our body cannot use nor digest. Without anywhere to go, it builds up in the body, leading to many heart-related diseases.
Unlike most hydrocarbons, cholesterol does not have an alternative name; it is simply cholesterol. The formula for cholesterol is C27H46O and the structure is on the cover page of this document. The “-ol” in cholesterol implies that it is part of the hydroxyl or alcohol functional group. Being part of the alcohol functional group means that one of the parent hydrocarbons was replaced with the alcohol functional group –OH.
There are three main functions of cholesterol; it coats our cells, it makes the acids in the body to digest food in the intestine, and it allows the body to make Vitamin D and hormones like estrogen in women and testosterone in men. Without cholesterol, these functions could not happen and without these functions, human life would not exist.
Though small amounts of cholesterol are important for human life to occur, excess amounts can be detrimental. High cholesterol levels can lead to things like coronary heart disease, stroke, pe...
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...ntially “eating moderate amounts of cholesterol will keep the doctors away!”
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Hypercholesterolemia is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance and is a major class of lipid, so it gets into the blood by lipoproteins [1]. A high level of lipoproteins is unhealthy. A high level can result in an elevated risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease [2]. The high levels of lipoproteins are often influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors such as obesity or dieting habits [2]. High cholesterol can be caused by mutations in the following genes: APOB, LDLR, LDLRAP1, and PCSK9 [3]. Mutations in the LDLR gene are responsible for causing familial hypercholesterolemia, which is the most commonly seen form of inherited high cholesterol [3]. The LDLR gene contains instructions for making LDL receptors or low-density lipoprotein receptors. LDL receptors play critical roles in regulating levels of cholesterol in the blood by removing low-density lipoproteins from the bloodstream. Mutations in the LDLR gene can make the amount of LDL receptors produced less than normal or affect their job of removing the low-density lipoproteins in the blood [4]. People who have these mutations will have higher levels of cholesterol. There are many ways that the environment can affect the levels of cholesterol in the blood. Reducing the amount of dietary fat you consume lowers the total amount of cholesterol in the blood [5]. Sucrose and fructose can raise the amount of LDL in the blood. Reducing fatty foods will however lower the amount of LDL [5]. Having a healthy body and maintaining physical exercise plays a key role in keeping your cholesterol at a healthy level. If you are overweight or obese you can lower your cholesterol levels by simply losing ...
CAD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the worldwide. The prevalence of biological and metabolic risk factors were also found to be high in development of coronary artery disease. Patients with hypercholesterolemia are at increased risk to experience cardiovascular events and to die from vascular disease [2]. .Statins, among the most commonly prescribed drugs worldwide, are cholesterol let downing agents used to manage cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases and to treat hypercholesterolemia. Statin’s therapy ...
The data presented in this table supports the conclusion of Purdy et al. (2005) that the inclusion of cholesterol to the CHO cell membranes will result in significant changes to the membrane, confirming the established function of cholesterol as a regulator of membrane fluidity.
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The bilirubin in the liver is transported across the hepatic cell membranes, where it binds to ligandin a hepatic protein for the process of conjugation. An enzyme in the liver conjugates bilirubin, which converts it to water-soluble bilirubin pigments that can be excreted into the bile and exit the body. Bilirubin pigments which are not excreted from the gut can be assimilated back into the circulation as unconjugated bilirubin. This process primarily recycles the bilirubin, which is also known as enterohepatic recirculation. Thus, neonates with reduced conjugation or excretion of bilirubin are at immense risk of acquiring
head group is attached to one of the glycerol hydroxyls with addition to the two hydrocarbon fatty
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My DRI of cholesterol was maxed at 300mg and my intake was 267mg. Still relatively high so could start consuming Oatmeal for breakfast in which reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol. Also, I...
They are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Fats are digested very slowly in the human
High cholesterol is the best known of all the many threats to a healthy heart. When excess amounts fatty like plaque substance build up along the walls of the arteries, you face a significantly higher risk of a complete blockage, leading to a heart attack or stroke. At normal levels, cholesterol is not a bad thing. On the other hand, its an essential material used by the body to make cell walls and produce hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen. The body produces its own supply of cholesterol in the liver, it’s also found in various animal products such as meats, eggs, and, milk. Cholesterol only becomes a threat when the body can’t use or get rid of excessive amounts of it.
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