11 Facts About Cholesterol

Cholesterol is any of a class of certain organic molecules called lipids.

Cholesterol is biosynthesized by all animal cells and is an essential structural component of animal cell membranes.

Cholesterol serves as a precursor for the biosynthesis of steroid hormones, bile acid and vitamin D Cholesterol is the principal sterol synthesized by all animals.

Cholesterol is essential for all animal life, with each cell capable of synthesizing it by way of a complex 37-step process.

Cholesterol is implicated in cell signaling processes, assisting in the formation of lipid rafts in the plasma membrane, which brings receptor proteins in close proximity with high concentrations of second messenger molecules.

Cholesterol esters bound to fatty acid, on the other hand, are transported within the fatty hydrophobic core of the lipoprotein, along with triglyceride.

Cholesterol is susceptible to oxidation and easily forms oxygenated derivatives called oxysterols.

Cholesterol is oxidized by the liver into a variety of bile acids.

Cholesterol is converted mainly into coprostanol, a nonabsorbable sterol that is excreted in the feces.

Cholesterol is tested to determine for "normal" or "desirable" levels if a person has a total cholesterol of 5.

Cholesterol has 256 stereoisomers that arise from its eight stereocenters, although only two of the stereoisomers are of biochemical significance, and only one occurs naturally .