What is LDL cholesterol?!


Question: What is LDL cholesterol!?
Is it the mg of cholesterol bound to low density lipoproteins or the mg of low density lipoproteins itself!?

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Answers:
Plasma lipoproteins are spherical particles with surfaces that consist largely of phospholipid, free cholesterol, and protein and cores that consist mostly of triglyercide and cholesterol ester!. LDL contains primarily cholesterol esters, therefore what is reported on the lab test is not only the cholesterol contained within the LDL particle but the lipoprotein itself, measured in mg/dL!.

FYI - an atheromatous plaque does contain LDL particles, more specifically oxidized LDL which is very atherosclerotic!. Those are the "fatty streaks" that you see and contained with it also includes foam cells, macrophages that ingest oxidized LDL!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

What is being tested!?
LDL is a type of lipoprotein that carries cholesterol in the blood!. LDL is considered to be undesirable because it deposits excess cholesterol in walls of blood vessel and contributes to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and heart disease!. Hence LDL cholesterol is often termed



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