Good and bad cholesterol in dogs

Good and bad cholesterol dogs

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the smallest of the lipoprotein molecules and is synthesized primarily in the liver (and to a certain degree in enterocytes). HDL are involved in reverse cholesterol transport. HDL transfer free cholesterol from cell membranes to to the HDL molecule as cholesterol esters via an enzyme lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase.

The cholesterol esters may be transferred to very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) by cholesterol ester transfer protein to eventually form low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which provides cholesterol to peripheral cells. Alternatively, the cholesterol esters may be delivered to the liver in HDL for excretion as bile salts. Because HDL are capable of transporting cholesterol from the periphery to the liver for disposal, they are said to contain ”good cholesterol” because they transport cholesterol to the periphery where excess may result in arterial plaque and cardiovascular disease.

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