What the Heck Is Liver Cholesterol?

The liver plays an essential role in the production of cholesterol. This is the reason why medical publications have coined the term "liver cholesterol".

Cholesterol is Important

Contrary to popular belief, having it is actually not detrimental for the health. It is, in fact, is very important for proper body functioning. Cholesterol plays an important role in the conversion of Vitamin D, which we get from the sun. This is also the precursor for many important hormones and enzymes in the body, including sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. It is also the building blocks of other steroid hormones that help us cope with stress and balance sodium water levels in the body.

To meet the cholesterol needs of the body, the liver synthesizes about 1,000 mg of cholesterol per day. However, majority of the this produced are converted into bile salts important for proper fat digestion. The available cholesterol left constitutes only about 25% of our total cholesterol every day. This is the reason why this must be obtained from dietary sources as well.

The body thus need adequate supply of dietary cholesterol. High cholesterol problems come in when you take in more cholesterol than necessary. High levels of cholesterol, especially low density lipoproteins (known as bad cholesterol) usually from saturated fat sources, can lead to the formation of plaque in the arterial walls, leading to the hardening of the arteries - a condition called atherosclerosis. When the blood flow is hampered and a clot forms due to the narrowed artery, a stroke or heart attack can occur.

Difference between Dietary and Liver Cholesterol

There is a significant difference between liver cholesterol that the body can naturally produce, and the cholesterol we get from food sources. Liver cholesterol, for one, is important for promoting overall health because it strengthens membranes of every cell in the body. Dietary cholesterol we take in through food perform the same function, but they only work when liver cholesterol secretion is not enough to fulfill your needs. This means that if your body produces enough natural cholesterol, then dietary cholesterol intake can be set to minimum.

Moreover, it is very important to strike a good balance between liver cholesterol and dietary cholesterol. There is much concern today because in many of adults, majority of blood cholesterol mostly come from the diet.

Finally, it is important to note that the liver is not only capable of producing cholesterol; it is also responsible for regulating and removing too much cholesterol from the bloodstream. The liver oxidizes excess cholesterol into bile, which are carried to the bile ducts and removed from the body through the intestine. If you expose the liver with too much cholesterol, it may sit a while in the gallbladder and can form gall stones.

In summary, not all cholesterol have to be avoided. In fact, we need cholesterol so much that our system can produce liver cholesterol for proper body functioning. The liver needs only little assistance in terms of providing enough cholesterol so we all must strive to maintain low cholesterol levels through a good, balanced diet.

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