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cholesterol

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
cho·les·ter·ol  (k-lst-rôl, -rl)
n.
A white crystalline substance, C27H45OH, found in animal tissues and various foods, that is normally synthesized by the liver and is important as a constituent of cell membranes and a precursor to steroid hormones. Its level in the bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of certain conditions, such as the development of atherosclerotic plaque and coronary artery disease.

[cholester(in), former name for cholesterol (chole- + Greek stereos, solid; see ster-1 in Indo-European roots + -in) + -ol (so called because it was first found in gallstones).]

cholesterol [kəˈlɛstəˌrɒl]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biochemistry) a sterol found in all animal tissues, blood, bile, and animal fats: a precursor of other body steroids. A high level of cholesterol in the blood is implicated in some cases of atherosclerosis, leading to heart disease. Formula: C27H45OH Former name cholesterin [kəˈlɛstərɪn]
[from chole- + Greek stereos hard, solid, so called because first observed in gallstones]

cholesterol  (k-lst-rôl)
A sterol found widely in animal and plant tissues. It is a main component of blood plasma and cell membranes, and it is an important precursor of many steroid hormones (such as the estrogens, testosterone, and cortisol), vitamin D2, and bile acids. In vertebrates, cholesterol is manufactured by the liver or absorbed from food in the intestine. Higher than normal amounts of cholesterol in the blood are associated with higher risk for developing coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis. Chemical formula: C27H46O. See also high-density lipoproteinlow-density lipoprotein
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.cholesterol - an animal sterol that is normally synthesized by the liver; the most abundant steroid in animal tissues
steroid alcohol, sterol - any of a group of natural steroid alcohols derived from plants or animals; they are waxy insoluble substances
HDL cholesterol - the cholesterol in high-density lipoproteins; the `good' cholesterol; a high level in the blood is thought to lower the risk of coronary artery disease
LDL cholesterol - the cholesterol in low-density lipoproteins; the `bad' cholesterol; a high level in the blood is thought to be related to various pathogenic conditions
Translations
cholesterol [kəˈlestərɒl] Ncolesterol m

cholesterol [kəˈlɛstərɒl] ncholestérol m
high cholesterol → excès m de cholestérol

cholesterol
nCholesterin nt

cholesterol [kəˈlɛstərɒl] ncolesterolo
cholesterol [kəˈlɛstərɒl] ncolesterolo

cholesterol كوليسترول cholesterol kolesterol Cholesterin χοληστερίνη colesterol kolesteroli cholestérol kolesterol colesterolo コレステロール 콜레스테롤 cholesterol kolesterol cholesterol colesterol холестерин kolesterol ไขมันในเส้นเลือด kolesterol chất cholestorol 胆固醇


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? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
David Jenkins and other researchers at the University of Toronto made news when they found that, under carefully controlled conditions, a near-vegan diet was as effective as medication at lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in people at risk for heart disease.
While there has been a proliferation of news and information about cholesterol in recent times, there still tends to be a great deal of confusion among the general public on the subject--especially pertaining to understanding the differences between HDL and LDL levels--or "good" and "bad" cholesterol.
Compared with their counterparts in many other countries, American children and adolescents also have higher blood cholesterol levels and higher intakes of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol.
 
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