Is cholesterol good or bad? The truth is cholesterol is not all bad as it is used by the body to build cell membranes, produce sex hormones, insulate nerves and digest fat. Problem arises only when excess cholesterol in the body that increases the risk of heart disease.
The Good and Bad Cholesterol
Cholesterol is carried through the bloodstream by special carriers called lipoproteins. These are two major types of lipoproteins: the low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL).
LDL Cholesterol
LDL is the major form in which cholesterol is carried from the liver into the blood and to the cells. If too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can go rancid in the arterial wall upon exposure to free radicals, a process called oxidation. The oxidised LDL cholesterol can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries feeding the heart and brain, resulting in arterial blockage.
HDL Cholesterol
HDL cholesterol, by contrast, protects our body by clearing excess LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream and returning it to the liver for recycling or conversuin into bile acids to be excreted.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are another form of fat that circulates in the blood. People suffering from heart attack often have high blood levels of triglycerides.
Reference range of total cholesterol and lipid profiles (mmol/L)
Test Desirable Borderline High
Total Cholesterol <5.18 5.18 - 6.20 >6.21
LDL Cholesterol <2.59 3.36 - 4.12 4.13 - 4.90
HDL Cholesterol >1.55
Serum Triglycerides <1.69 1.69 - 2.25 >2.26
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