Key Terms
- atherosclerosis
- formation of fatty material called plaques on inner arterial walls
- cholesterol
- major sterol in the body; important for the structure of cell membranes and the production of hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D
- chylomicrons
- lipoproteins produced by enterocytes in the gut; carry triglycerides to the tissues after dietary consumption
- dyslipidemia
- abnormal lipid levels or an imbalance of lipids in the blood
- familial hypercholesterolemia
- genetic disorder that manifests as very high cholesterol levels that can cause early cardiovascular disease
- high-density lipoproteins (HDL or HDL-cholesterol)
- cholesterol-rich lipoproteins made by the liver that function to remove cholesterol from the circulation; “good cholesterol”
- HMG CoA reductase
- enzyme involved in cholesterol biosynthesis
- hypercholesterolemia
- excessive blood levels of cholesterol
- hyperlipidemia
- excessive blood levels of lipids
- hypertriglyceridemia
- excessive blood levels of triglycerides
- lipoprotein lipase
- enzyme that breaks down triglycerides into free fatty acids
- lipoproteins
- combinations of lipids and proteins that carry cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood
- low-density lipoproteins (LDL or LDL-cholesterol)
- cholesterol-rich lipoprotein made by the liver and implicated in the development of atherosclerosis; “bad cholesterol”
- pleiotropic effects
- additional beneficial effects of statin medications unrelated to their lipid-lowering effects
- triglycerides
- main dietary source of fat; composed of three long fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol backbone
- very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL)
- triglyceride-rich lipoprotein made by the liver