An increased level of HDL cholesterol is associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Conversely, low levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with an increased risk. This is why HDL is thought of as the "good" type of cholesterol.
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However, it seems that it is not actually the cholesterol itself that is "good", but the lipoprotein which carries it, in other words high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
It appears that the HDL molecule itself can clean out excess cholesterol, taking the "bad" LDL cholesterol which has accumulated in the walls of arteries back to the liver for reprocessing. It also carries antioxidant enzymes, which protect arteries against atherosclerosis, the cause of CHD.
Reviewed by Dr A.G. Hall (B.Soc.Sc.(SW), MB,Ch.B)
Last updated: 2008/02/18
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