Cholesterol and testosterone are related compounds that perform essential functions in your body. Your body is able to synthesize cholesterol from dietary fats and obtain it in the diet. In addition to its role in metabolism, cholesterol serves as a precursor to the sex hormones, including testosterone, the male sex hormone.
Cholesterol Functions
Cholesterol serves as a structural component of your cellular membranes, helping to maintain membrane fluidity and keeping cells protected from damage. Your body uses cholesterol to make other compounds, including bile acids, which function in the digestion of fat, in addition to vitamin D, which your skin produces on exposure to sunlight. Cholesterol serves as precursor to steroid hormones including cortisol, estrogen and testosterone.
Cholesterol Sources
You can obtain preformed cholesterol in a variety of animal foods, which include meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy. However, because your body is able to synthesize enough cholesterol to meet its needs, no amount of cholesterol is required in your diet, and eating too much can increase your risk of heart disease. According to the Cleveland Clinic, you should consume less than 200 mg of cholesterol each day. This is less than the amount of cholesterol present in one whole egg, which contains 210 mg.
Testosterone Synthesis
Testosterone is one of many important hormones derived from cholesterol. In a man's testes and in a woman's ovaries and placenta, cholesterol is converted first to progesterone and then to testosterone. In women, testosterone is used to synthesize estrogen, a major female sex hormone. Testosterone then travels to target tissues to exert its effects.
Testosterone Functions
Although women produce testosterone, higher levels occur in men and testosterone is called the male sex hormone. In men, testosterone stimulates the production of sperm, called spermatogenesis. At puberty, testosterone is responsible for increased muscle mass, the pubertal growth spurt, growth of the penis and deepening of the voice. In addition, testosterone is converted to the hormone dihydrotestosterone, which contributes to male hair pattern baldness and growth of the prostate.
References
- "Biochemistry"; Pamela C. Champe, Ph.D; 2005
- "Physiology"; Linda S. Costanzo, Ph.D.; 2009
- Cleveland Clinic: Nutrition: Cholesterol Guidelines
- "The Nutrition Doctor's A-To-Z Food Counter"; Dr. Ed Blonz; 1999
