Question

What is cholesterol? Give its functions and disorders produced by it in the human body.

Answer 1

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all cells of the body. One of the most important jobs of cholesterol is to aide in the production of hormones. Cholesterol is stored in the adrenal glands, ovaries and the testes and is converted to steroid hormones. These steroid hormones perform other vital duties to help the body function properly. Cholesterol in the cell helps to slightly immobilize the outer surface of the membrane and make it less soluble to very small water-soluble molecules that could otherwise pass through more easily. Without cholesterol, cell membranes would be too fluid, not firm enough, and too permeable to some molecules. Cholesterol disorders are hyperlipidemia, and hypolipidemia. Hyperlipidemia means high level of fat (lipids) in the blood. This puts risk for many health problems, including heart attack and stroke. It is sometimes called high blood cholesterol. Hypolipidemia is a decrease in plasma lipoprotein caused by primary (genetic) or secondary factors. Depression and anxiety can spring from many causes, including possibly low cholesterol