HDL, THE LIFESAVING LIPOPROTEIN

HDL, the lifesaving lipoprotein

HDL is manufactured in the small intestine and the liver, its primary source. As it moves though the bloodstream, it takes in excess cholesterol that leaches out of tissue cells and, most important, excess cholesterol building up in the inner arterial wall. HDLs unload this cholesterol in the liver, where it is then excreted via bile, a process referred to as "reverse cholesterol transport." Other lipoproteins bring cholesterol into the cells, so it is this reverse transport from the cells to the liver that distinguishes HDL as the "good" cholesterol. An elevated level of HDL has been associated with a reduced risk for heart disease. HDL confers heart - protective benefits in four ways.

1. HDL circulates around the body, picking up excess cholesterol and bringing it back to the liver for disposal (reverse cholesterol transport).

2. HDL is an antioxidant, capable of dismantling rogue free radical molecules that oxidize the protein in the LDL particles - a contributing factor to atherosclerosis. (Oxidation is the same process that produces rust on metals.)

3. HDL exhibits anti-inflammatory activity (like aspirin) and can decrease the inflammation linked with the atherosclerosis process.

4. HDL lessens the ability of the blood to form clots, thus reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke.