Cholesterol Biosynthesis

A close look at the steps required to produce cholesterol and a clinical correlation on controlling cholesterol

Step 1: 3 Acetyl Coa à 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coa (HMG Coa)
HMG-Coa à Mevelonate

Step 2: Mevelonate + CoASH  + 3ATP à Isopentenyl PPi

Step 3: Condensation of 6 molecules of isopentenyl PPi to produce Squalene

Step 4: Cyclization of squalene and conversion to Cholesterol

• Only a small fraction of cholesterol comes from diet. Liver production of cholesterol is five times higher than dietary intake.
• Cholesterol isn’t bad, too much is bad. It’s used to produce steroids and hormones in our body