Do I need cholesterol?

Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

You do need cholesterol to help the cells work properly. It is rare to have a cholesterol level that is too low.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD

Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease)

Cholesterol serves as a backbone for your cellular membrane. It sticks inside the cell wall, functioning as a support structure. Your body also uses the cholesterol molecule to make important hormones, like testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, and progesterone. Your digestive system also uses cholesterol to build bile acids, which help the body absorb fats and other important nutrients. (Your body does need some fat in order to survive.)

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Cholesterol

We need cholesterol, a fatty, waxy substance because our cells use it to form the membrane -- a critical part of the cell. But because it is fatty, it does not dissolve in the blood, but is carried to your cells by certain proteins. We get concerned about cholesterol when there is too much of it, particularly when there is too much "Low-Density Lipoprotein" or LDL cholesterol. This type of cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease. On the other hand, there is High-Density or HDL cholesterol, which is "good" cholesterol, and good levels of HDL are associated with less risk of stroke and heart attack.

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