Where do cholesterol and triglycerides come from?
There are two main sources of cholesterol and triglycerides: • External sources, in other words the diet; • Internal sources, in other words that which is manufactured/recycled by the body. The diet In terms of the diet, cholesterol and triglycerides come mainly from eating animal products, fish, dairy products and various oils, which are then absorbed through the gut. Eggs and shrimp have a very high cholesterol content. Plants have trace amounts of cholesterol, so that even vegans will consume some cholesterol. Plant products also have cholesterol-like substances called phytosterols, which may compete with cholesterol for absorption. In the intestine, the ingested cholesterol and triglycerides are assembled into special spherical packages called chylomicrons, which travel through the bloodstream to the liver. Here, the chylomicrons are systematically converted into different lipoproteins, carrying more and more cholesterol. These lipoproteins then circulate to deliver cholesterol to
