Good and Bad Cholesterol
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Cholesterol plays a central role in many biochemical processes, but is best known for the association of cardiovascular disease with various lipoprotein cholesterol transport patterns and high levels of cholesterol in the blood. In recent years, the somewhat imprecise term "bad cholesterol" has been used to refer to LDL low-density lipoprotein, and "good cholesterol" to refer to HDL high-density lipoprotein. Cholesterol does not have two different forms, but is transported around the body bound in different lipoproteins, the most well known of which are LDL and HDL. Cholesterol is insoluble in blood, but can be transported in the circulatory system when encapsulated by one of the varieties of lipoprotein, spherical particles which have an exterior composed mainly of water-soluble proteins. Abnormally low levels of cholesterol are termed hypocholesterolemia. Research into the causes of this state is relatively limited, and while some studies suggest a link with depression, cancer and cerebral hemorrhage it is unclear whether the low cholesterol levels are a cause for these conditions
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