When you hear the word cholesterol, oftentimes pictures of fat-filled cheeseburgers and coronary surgeries come to mind. However, cholesterol plays an integral part in the functioning of your body. When not consumed in moderation, cholesterol levels can rise too high, creating arterial plaque and raising your risk for coronary heart disease, states the American Heart Association. However, when consumed in the right quantity, cholesterol is used by cells, for hormones and even in the production of essential vitamins.
Cell Health
Cholesterol can be found in every cell in your body. In fact, without cholesterol your cells would die. Cholesterol has a rigid structure upon which cells rely to make up the plasma membrane and the membranes of organelles. The rigidity of the membrane is used to protect the cell from its environmental hazards. The presence of cholesterol in the cell membrane also assists in diffusing nutrients into the cell, as well as waste out of the cell.
Hormones
Cholesterol is also an important precursor to certain hormones in the body, including sex hormones, mineralcorticoids and glucocorticoids. For example, through biosynthesis cholesterol is transformed into the androgen testosterone through the alteration of carbon atoms.
Vitamins
Cholesterol also acts as a precursor for vitamin D in the body, as well as a precursor for bile, which is needed to absorb certain fat-soluble vitamins. Cholesterol is transformed into vitamin D endogenously--or inside your body--when ultraviolet rays from the sun come into contact with your skin, activating vitamin D synthesis, states the National Institute of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements. As a precursor to bile, cholesterol is needed to create bile salts, which help the intestines absorb vitamins A, K, D and E.
References
- American Heart Association: Cholesterol
- The Medical Biochemistry Page: Steroid Hormones
- Rensselaer Polytechnic University: Cholesterol Synthesis
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: "Biochemistry, Fifth Edition"; Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Lubert Stryer; 2002
- U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D
