- Every cell in our body makes cholesterol. Not every cell makes enough of it to meet their needs.
- There are net exporters and net importers of cholesterol.
- cholesterol is an essential molecule for life.
- It makes up the cell membrane of every cell. It allows membranes to have fluidity and have transporters sitting across them.
- Cholesterol is the backbone for many of our hormones that we make
- Cholesterol is (unlike for example Glucose) not water soluble.
- Cholesterol hence needs to be transported through the body.
- Cannot be moved through the bloodstream like water-soluble molecules.
- This is why our bodies have lipoproteins. On the outside it’s water soluble. On the inside it can house water-insoluble things like cholesterol and triglycerides.
- There are 2 lipoprotein families: ApoB (mainly ApoB100) and ApoA
- ApoB consists of VLDL (=very low density lipoprotein), IDL (=Intermediate-density lipoprotein), LDL (=low-density lipoprotein) and LPa
- HDL does not cause atherosclerosis. LDL causes atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery.
- Anything with an ApoB on it causes atherosclerosis.
- LDL are the majority of ApoB concentration.
- ApoB is a great predictor of cardiovascular risk as it is the total concentration of all particles that can cause atherosclerosis.
- The lower ones ApoB the better.
Cholesterol — A few notes on lipid markers
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