OF all the compounds in our body, cholesterol may be one of the most well known. There is much misinformation surrounding this fatty substance despite it being a household name. In this article, we shine some light on cholesterol.
In our Medical Myths series, we approach medical misinformation head on. Using expert insight and peer reviewed research to wrestle fact from fiction, MNT brings clarity to the myth riddled world of health journalism.
Cholesterol: What is the truth? Design by Diego Sabogal Cholesterol is an essential component of animal cell membranes; as such, it is synthesized by all animal cells. Regardless of its bad name, cholesterol is essential for life.
However, when present in high levels in the blood, it increasesTrusted Source the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Cholesterol, along with other substances, such as fat and calcium, builds up in plaques on the walls of arteries. Over time, this narrows the blood vessels and can lead to complications, including stroke and heart attack.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015–2016, 12%Trusted Source of people aged 20 years or older in the United States had high cholesterol.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that raised cholesterol levels are responsible for 2.6 millionTrusted Source deaths each year.
Given such prevalence, it is no surprise that misinformation about cholesterol is rife. So, to help us separate fact from fiction, Medical News Today enlisted the help of three experts:
Dr. Robert Greenfield, a board-certified cardiologist, lipidologist, and internist at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA
Dr. Alexandra Lajoie, a noninvasive cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA
As mentioned in the introduction, cholesterol is a vital component of cell membranes. Aside from its structural role in membranes, it is also vitalTrusted Source in the production of steroid hormones, vitamin D, and bile acid.
So, although high levels are a risk factor for disease, without any cholesterol, we could not survive.
