Cholesterol
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What is LDL and HDL?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): is a substance made up of fat (lipid) and protein. Its function is to carry cholesterol and fats (triglycerides) in the blood.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL): a lipoprotein of blood plasma that is composed of a high proportion of protein with little triglyceride and cholesterol and that is correlated with reduced risk of atherosclerosis.
How Do LDL and HDL Differ Structurally and Functionally?
Structure:
The main structural difference between LDL and HDL is their compositions. Approximately 50 percent of the weight of an LDL particle is cholesterol and only 25 percent is protein.
Function:
Low-density lipoproteins -- the primary carriers of cholesterol -- bring cholesterol to cells throughout your body and can cause cholesterol to buildup within your arteries. This buildup can eventually lead to arterial blockage and an increased risk for heart disease and stroke.High-density lipoproteins, on the other hand, can benefit your health because these particles carry cholesterol away from your heart and other organs and deliver it back to your liver, where it is passed from your body.