There are two main lipids found in the blood, cholesterol and triglycerides , also known as serum lipoproteins . Cholesterol is an essential chemical within the body, without it we will die. Yet, if our blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are too high, we are at risk for coronary artery disease which is a major cause of death in the United States today. Triglycerides are important in helping to transfer energy from food into body cells. Lipoproteins are categorized based on how dense they are.
Density is based on the amounts of cholesterol triglycerides and apoproteins.
Lipoproteins that are a little less dense are called low-density lipoproteins of LDL . The least dense, and the largest of the lipoproteins, are the very low-density lipoproteins or VLDL . In coronary heart disease , plaque accumulates along the walls of the coronary arteries. Plaque, can also accumulate in other major arteries within the body, this is termed atherosclerosis . Epidemiological research has shown that high levels of LDL cholesterol increases the risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis, just as high levels of HDL cholesterol lower that same risk.