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cholesterol
(kә-lesītәr-ol″)
a steroid alcohol found in animal fats and oils, bile, blood, brain tissue, milk, egg yolk, myelin sheaths of nerve fibers,
liver, kidneys, and adrenal glands. It is a precursor of bile acids and steroid hormones. Most of the body's cholesterol is synthesized by the liver, but some is obtained in the diet from animal-derived foods.
Plant-derived foods do not contain cholesterol. Two important fractions of the serum lipoproteins are high-density lipoproteins
and low-density lipoproteins. High levels of cholesterol in the blood are associated with increased risk for coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
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