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What Is Cholesterol Composed Of?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that floats around in your bloodstream. A cholesterol panel measures the amount of cholesterol in your blood and is broken down into subfractions.

  1. LDL

    • LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein. LDL is the "bad" cholesterol; it transports cholesterol through the bloodstream and deposits excess on the inside of your blood vessels, creating plaque.

    HDL

    • HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. HDL is the "good" cholesterol; it cleans up the plaque that LDL has left on your walls of your blood vessels.

    Triglycerides

    • Triglycerides are fatty substances made up of glycerol that float through the bloodstream. Tryglycerides contribute to the plaque buildup in your blood vessels and affect the blood vessels' dilating abilities.

    VLDL

    • VLDL is "very low-density lipoprotein." For your body to manufacture LDL, VLDL is required.

    Lp(a)

    • Lp(a) is a form of LDL that is particularly dangerous. Even if your LDL levels are normal, Lp(a) still can be responsible for clogging your arteries.

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