According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one out of every six individuals or 16.3 percent people in the United States have high cholesterol. There are no symptoms for this condition. Most of the people remain unaware of the fact that their cholesterol level is high. Such a state can make them twice at risk of developing heart diseases. This makes awareness on this topic to be imperative apart from getting the cholesterol levels checked for every five years. This article tries to understand the process of cholesterol synthesis.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance present in our blood. Well within a pre-defined range, it performs some vital functions. Only when there is abnormality or irregularity in the production of this substance, risk of heart diseases arise.
Nearly 25 percent of the cholesterol is produced in liver. The intestines and the reproductive organs are the other areas where it is produced. Acetoacetyl-CoA and acetyl CoA are the two molecules which are required for the initiation of cholesterol production. Two scientists Feodor Lynen and Konrad Bloch were awarded the 1964 Nobel prize for medicine as they explained how the body produces this substance.
When the Body Requires Cholesterol Synthesis?
The food that we eat produces ample amount of this substance. The body maintains an inherent balance between the production and usage of cholesterol. However, the mechanism behind this balance is not understood yet. Production is initiated only when there is very low level of this substance.
Why the Body Requires Cholesterol Synthesis?
When cholesterol level is below 200 mg/dL, it is considered to be well within its normal range. Remaining at this level, it performs the following tasks in the body:
- The internal and external surfaces of cells are built and maintained by it.
- It is involved in the processing of signals to and from the cells to the brain.
- It helps in the carrying of substances present inside the cell from one location to another.
- It plays an important role in the communication of two cells through signaling.
- It starts the production of bile acids, Vitamin D and several hormones in the body.
- According to the findings of some of the research carried out on it, it is found that cholesterol has antioxidant properties too.
