Cholesterol ('hard bile') is the main component of the body's cell wall. 80% of cholesterol is produced in the liver, the remaining 20% comes from food. It prevents the cell wall from being destroyed by various aggressive factors. Another important function is participation in production of various biologically active substances - vitamin D, steroid hormones of adrenal glands, female hormones (estrogen, progesterone), testosterone. It also helps in the transmission of signals from one nerve cell to another.

The main purpose of a total cholesterol test is to diagnose atherosclerosis (and, as a consequence, coronary heart disease - CHD).

There are three types of cholesterol - high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). HDL and LDL are clinically important because of their characteristics.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL)

The "healthy" fraction of cholesterol. There is an inverse correlation between HDL and CHD - the higher the HDL, the lower the risk of developing heart disease. Every 0.13 mmol/l (5mg/dl) decrease in HDL concentration leads to a 25% increase in the risk of CHD!

High HDL values are positively evaluated as an anti-atherogenic factor.

Knowing the amounts of total cholesterol and HDL, an atherogenicity coefficient (Ca) can be calculated:

Ca = Total CL - HDL/HDL

In patients with CHD, the coefficient is greater than 4.

Read more: " THE TRUTH ABOUT CHOLESTEROL AND LIPIDS"