ProLipid

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance called a lipid that is essential for human life. A component of every body cell, it helps to maintain the stability and fluidity of cell membranes.

Cholesterol is also used in the liver to produce cholic acid, a major constituent of the bile fluid necessary for the digestion of fat. In addition, cholesterol is the material used by the body to build hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.

Because cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is not water-soluble, it can't flow freely through arteries and veins. Instead, it quickly forms fatty droplets similar to grease drops in soup. The body's solution is to transport all lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides in specialized cargo vehicles called lipoproteins. The most well-known lipoproteins are LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein).