What is Cholesterol?  

Cholesterol is a complex lipid molecule that has long been of interest because of its association with heart disease. One of the Dietary guidelines recommends avoiding too much cholesterol (as well as fat and saturated fat). There has been much publicity regarding the fact that too much cholesterol in the blood may increase the risk of myocardial infraction i.e. heart attack, but the most desirable level of serum  cholesterol is controversial.

Cholesterol is an essential compound within the body , which has a variety of functions. It is not considered to be a nutrient because it can be synthesized by the live in amounts sufficient to meet the body’s requirements.

Roles of cholesterol in Body

Structural

            Cholesterol is a vital, durable compound component of all membranes of cells and of the internal organelles, helping to control their permeability. The concentration of cholesterol is particularly high in the liver, adrenal gland, brain and peripheral nerves. Cholesterol that is deposited within the corneum of the skin helps make the skin resistant.

Lipid Transport

Cholesterol is a part of lipoproteins, the complexes that carry lipids (fats) in the bloodstream. 

Precursor

A large fraction (up to 80 percent) of the available cholesterol is used as a starting material for the synthesis of cholic acid, which is then converted to bile salts. Cholesterol is also the precursor for 7-dehydrocholesterol (pro-vitamin D) and can serve as a precursor for adrenocortical hormones and the sex hormones – progesterone, estrogen and testosterone.

Sources of cholesterol

Cholesterol is found only in animal foods and in prepared foods that contain one or more animal products. This means that cholesterol is found only in eggs, dairy products, meat, fish, shellfish, poultry animal fats such as lards and chicken fat and food made with any of these ingredients. There are only few animal products that contain essentially no cholesterol, namely skin, milk, and cheese, made entirely from the skim milk, egg white, and gelatin.

Some animal products are much higher in cholesterol content than are the others. Eggs are best known for their cholesterol content because they are very commonly used. Actually some organ meats are much higher in cholesterol content than are eggs. Shellfish have long been thought to be very high in cholesterol content than fish. Meat, poultry and fish are similar in cholesterol content. However these foods differ in fat content and because of this have different effects on the level of cholesterol in the blood.

Important

1. Cholesterol is an essential body compound but is not required in the diet

2. Dietary sources of cholesterol include most animal products, with eggs and organ meats being the richest sources.

3. Dietary intake of cholesterol is only one of the several factors influencing serum level of cholesterol

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