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Related Concept Videos

Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation01:29

Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation

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Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces.
Considering cholesterol and...
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Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile01:25

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile

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Understanding serum lipids is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health and preventing heart disease and stroke.
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...
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Overview of Lipid Metabolism01:24

Overview of Lipid Metabolism

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Lipid metabolism is a crucial process in the human body that involves the synthesis and degradation of lipids. This process is essential for energy production, cell membrane formation, and hormone production, among other functions.
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
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Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism01:28

Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism

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Lipids also are sources of energy that power cellular processes. Like carbohydrates, lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, but these atoms are arranged differently. Most lipids are nonpolar and hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
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Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body01:31

Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body

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Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various  biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin,...
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Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements01:18

Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements

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Lipids are an essential component of a balanced human diet. Triglycerides, which make up the majority of dietary lipids, are found in both saturated fats—commonly present in meat, dairy products, and certain tropical plants like coconut, and hydrogenated oils such as margarine and baking shortenings (trans fats)—and unsaturated fats, which are abundant in seeds, nuts, olive oil, and most vegetable oils. The main sources of cholesterol include egg yolks, various meats and organ...
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Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol
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Enrichment of Mammalian Tissues and Xenopus Oocytes with Cholesterol

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Cholesterol Review: A Metabolically Important Molecule.

David S Schade1, Lynda Shey2, R Philip Eaton1

  • 1From the (1)University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the.

Endocrine Practice : Official Journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
|January 20, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cholesterol is vital for human health, regulating cellular processes and forming steroid hormones. Both excess and deficiency cause disease, including atherosclerosis, highlighting its dual role.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Human Physiology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cholesterol is essential for human health, with established roles in cellular membranes.
  • Clinicians often overlook cholesterol's diverse physiological and pathophysiological functions beyond membrane stabilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of cholesterol in human physiology and pathophysiology.
  • To highlight newly recognized functions of cholesterol in health and disease.

Main Methods:

  • This is a review article.
  • The review synthesizes current knowledge on cholesterol's structure-function relationships.
  • It examines cholesterol's involvement in various cellular processes and its role as a precursor molecule.

Main Results:

  • Cholesterol's unique structure enables regulation of membrane fluidity, permeability, and gene transcription.
  • It is the backbone for steroid hormones and vitamin D, crucial for growth, development, and potentially cancer treatment.
  • Excess cholesterol accumulation leads to atherosclerosis, a major cause of death, while deficiency impairs vitamin distribution.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive understanding of cholesterol's benefits and risks is crucial for clinical practice.
  • Improved knowledge will enhance endocrinologists' ability to manage cholesterol-related diseases.