Cholesterol

Purity: > 99%

Soluble in hot ethanol

CAS Number: 57-88-5

Water-permeable lipid and major component of all biological membranes

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol 101: An introduction

If you’re reading this, you probably care about your health and the role cholesterol can play. That’s an important first step.

So, what is cholesterol? What does it do?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance. It’s not inherently “bad.” Your body needs it to build cells and make vitamins and other hormones. But too much cholesterol can pose a problem.

Cholesterol comes from two sources. Your liver makes all the cholesterol you need. The remainder of the cholesterol in your body comes from foods from animals. For example, meat, poultry and dairy products all contain dietary cholesterol.

Those same foods are high in saturated and trans fats. These fats cause your liver to make more cholesterol than it otherwise would. For some people, this added production means they go from a normal cholesterol level to one that’s unhealthy.

Some tropical oils – such as palm oil, palm kernel oil and coconut oil – contain saturated fat that can increase bad cholesterol. These oils are often found in baked goods.

Conclusion: Understanding the benefits and hazards of cholesterol in the clinical setting will improve the endocrinologist's ability to control diseases associated with this unique molecule.

© 2020 American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Published by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.