What is cholesterol and how does arteriosclerosis develop?
Cholesterol is an essential raw material for our bodies. For example, it’s needed to make certain hormones, like estrogen and testosterone. It is also a vital building block for cell membranes, so every cell in our body needs it. But too much cholesterol in the blood can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Most of the cholesterol in our body is made in the liver, and about 20% comes from our diet. The bloodstream transports cholesterol from the liver to the other organs and tissues in the body. Excess cholesterol is carried back to the liver in the blood.
Cholesterol is sometimes referred to as a “blood fat” because, like fats, it doesn’t dissolve in water (or blood). Cholesterol is packed into tiny parcels in the liver so that it can be transported through the bloodstream. Because they are mainly made up of fats (lipids) and proteins, the parcels are called “lipoproteins.” There are two different groups of lipoproteins, which differ in how densely they are packed.