Cholesterol is a complex subject due to its vital importance as a metabolic compound in the body and its proposed role in cardiovascular disease. It turns out that how cholesterol is carried in the body may provide a clue as to whether it is a factor in cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Total cholesterol levels reflect the entire amount in circulation including that being dropped off for use throughout the body and that being picked up or "scavenged" by HDL and brought back to the liver for processing.
Evaluating the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol (TC:HDL) helps evaluate risk of atherosclerosis, arterial stiffness, and cardiovascular disease. If total cholesterol is relatively high compared to HDL-cholesterol, then the benefits of HDL are reduced and risk of atherosclerosis and therefore CVD are increased.
An elevated TC:HDL ratio is associated with CVD and major adverse cardiovascular events as well as increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a metabolic disorder.
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