Liquid Vitamin Facts: Lipoproteins?
Learn the difference between cholesterol and lipoproteins.
Many referr to cholesterol as good and bad. However, I believe most are actually thinking of HDL’s and LDL’s. I will briefly describe the difference here.
HDL’s are high density lipoproteins. LDL’s are low density lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are the transport mechanisms for cholesterol. The structure of the lipoproteins are simply lipids (fats) and proteins. The reason for this structure is proteins are soluble in water whereas fats are insoluble in water. The protein portion transports the lipids through the blood. Since blood is comprised mostly of water, the lipid portion would not travel without the protein portion.
HDL’s consist of about 50% protein and 50% lipid. Whereas LDL’s are about 25% protein and 75% lipid. The function of the HDL is to bring cholesterol to the liver for recycling or elimination. Low density lipoproteins transport cholesterol to the rest of the body for building tissues.
Cholesterol is structurally an alcohol, because of the hydroxyl group(OH). Cholesterol contains a four ring region that is characteristic of all steroid hormones (estrogen and testosterone). However, combination of the steroid ring structure and the hydroxyl group classify cholesterol as a sterol.
Kristy Haugen
