Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fat-like alcohol, an important component of the membranes of all cells and tissues of the body. The biological role of cholesterol is that it is the starting material for the synthesis of sex hormones in humans. Cholesterol synthesis is a complex multi-step process that begins with the formation of acetyl coenzyme A from acetic acid, then its oxidation to form pyruvate, from which hydroxymethyl nicotinamide phosphate is synthesized, which is then converted to choline, which is a precursor for the synthesis of acetyl-CoA. On its basis, all steroids are synthesized, including cholesterol; up to 80% of its total amount is formed in liver cells. A decrease in the level of cholesterol in the blood without its production occurs with kidney disease, severe injuries, burns, after removal of a significant part of the thyroid gland due to a decrease in the rate of synthesis. Cholesterol levels increase in hypothyroidism,