Our Lady of Lourdes College Foundation Learning Module

College of Nursing and Midwifery Instructor: Karina E. Jaca RN,LPT

This module belongs to: ____________________________________________

BIOCHEMISTRY

MODULE 6

CHOLESTEROL

 a waxy type of fat, or lipid, which moves throughout your body in your
blood. Lipids are substances that do not dissolve in water, so they do
not come apart in blood.
 Your body makes cholesterol, but you can also get it from foods.
Cholesterol is only found in foods that come from animals.

IMPORTANCE OF CHOLESTEROL

a) It aids in the production of sex hormones.

Is the precursor of the five major classes of steroid hormones:
1. Progestogens
2. Glucocorticoids
3. Mineralocorticoids
4. Androgens
5. estrogens

1. PROGESTOGENS

 Progestogens are synthetic forms of progesterone and were developed

because progesterone could not be absorbed orally.
 The progestogens are named for their function in maintaining pregnancy
although they are also present at other phases of
the estrous and menstrual cycles.

2. Glucocorticoids
  are powerful medicines that fight inflammation and work with your
immune system to treat wide range of health problems.
 Your body actually makes its own glucocorticoids. These hormones have
many jobs, such as controlling how your cells use sugar and fat and
curbing inflammation

3. Mineralocorticoids

 class of steroid hormones that regulate salt and water balances.

 Aldosterone is the primary mineralocorticoid.
 Mineralocorticoids promote sodium and potassium transport, usually
followed by changes in water balance. This function is essential to
life.

4. Androgens

 A= Adam (BOY) = ANDROGEN

 hormones that contribute to growth and reproduction in both men and
women.
 Androgens are usually thought of as male hormones, but the female body
naturally produces a small amount of androgens too.
 They are also responsible for the development of secondary sexual
characteristics in men, including facial and body hair growth and voice
change.

Effects of excessive use of androgens in females

you may experience symptoms of hyperandrogenism:

 such as facial hair growth, acne or oily skin,
 clitoral enlargement and sensitivity
 deepening of your voice. Androgen supplements may also negatively
affect cholesterol levels (thus increasing your risk of heart disease)

5. ESTROGENS

 E= Eva (GIRL) = ESTROGEN

 a group of hormones that play an important role in the normal sexual
and reproductive development in women.
 The primary function of estrogens is development of female secondary
sexual characteristics. These includes breasts, endometrium, regulation
of the menstrual cycle etc.
 In males,estrogen helps in maturation of the sperm and maintenance of a
healthy libido.

b) It's a building block for human tissues.

c) It assists in bile production in the liver.
d) helps to regulate membrane fluidity over the range of physiological
temperatures.
 What are the types of cholesterol?

a) Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

 is one of the two main lipoproteins.
 LDL is often called “the bad cholesterol.”
 LOW=lupa/impyerno = bad
 They can cause atherosclerosis

b) High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

 It is the other main lipoprotein.
 HDL is often called “the good cholesterol.”
 HIGH= TAAS/HEAVEN = GOOD
 It's good because it carries away other kinds of cholesterol,
(including LDL), away from the arteries.
 HDL drops off other types of cholesterol at the liver to be
removed from the body.
 It's believed that higher levels of HDL reduce the risk for heart
disease.

c) Very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL)

 They are particles in the blood that carry triglycerides.
 Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol is produced in
the liver and released into the bloodstream to supply body
tissues with a type of fat (triglycerides).
 There are several types of cholesterol, each made up of
lipoproteins and fats.

What factors affect cholesterol levels?

Diet:
Try to reduce the amount of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol in your
diet. This will help lower your blood cholesterol level. Saturated and trans
fat have the most impact on blood cholesterol.

Weight:
In addition to being a risk factor for heart disease, being overweight can
also increase your triglycerides. Losing weight may help lower your
triglyceride levels and raise your HDL

Exercise:
Regular exercise can lower total cholesterol levels. Exercise has the most
effect on lowering triglycerides and raising HDL. You should try to be
physically active for 30 minutes on most days of the week.
Age and sex:
As we get older, cholesterol levels rise. Before menopause, women tend to
have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After
menopause, however, women’s LDL levels tend to rise and HDL can drop

Heredity:
Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High blood
cholesterol can run in families.

Medications:
 Statin medications are one of the most well-known categories of
cholesterol drugs.
 Statins work by reducing the amount of cholesterol produced by the
liver.
 Statins lower blood cholesterol and may help reduce the risk of heart
attacks and strokes, which is one reason why they are so widely
prescribed.

PREPARED BY: KARINA ESPAÑA JACA RN, LPT